Death Cab for Cutie formed in 1997 in Bellingham, Washington, initially as a solo project by Ben Gibbard, who expanded it into a band with Nick Harmer on bass, Chris Walla on guitar, and Nathan Good on drums. Gibbard and Walla met at Western Washington University in the mid-1990s, recording demos that led to the band's debut album, Something About Airplanes, in 1998 on Barsuk Records. The group's style blends indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock, characterized by Gibbard's falsetto vocals, introspective lyrics, and unconventional instrumentation. The band gained mainstream recognition with 2003's Transatlanticism, featuring songs used in TV shows and films, followed by the platinum-certified Plans in 2005 on Atlantic Records. They have released ten studio albums, including Asphalt Meadows in 2022, and received eight Grammy nominations between 2006 and 2016. Current members include Gibbard, Harmer, Jason McGerr on drums, Dave Depper, and Zac Rae. Death Cab for Cutie is known for live performances emphasizing emotional delivery and intricate arrangements, building on their early shows at venues like Seattle's Crocodile.