Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie has announced the upcoming release of an all-new EP, titled “THE OPEN DOOR.”  The five-track set will be released online via all digital retailers – including the band’s own www.deathcabforcutie.com – on March 31^st.  Physical CDs will first be available at venues on DCFC’s upcoming spring tour – beginning April 5^th at the Sound Academy in Toronto, Ontario- followed by an official in-store release on Tuesday, April 14^th.

“THE OPEN DOOR” features four previously unreleased songs recorded by Death Cab during the sessions which yielded last year’s RIAA gold-certified, Grammy Award-nominated “NARROW STAIRS.”  In addition, the EP includes a demo version of “Talking Bird” – found on “NARROW STAIRS” – which sees the band’s Ben Gibbard accompanying his own vocals with ukulele.   All five songs on “THE OPEN DOOR” were written by Gibbard, except “My Mirror Speaks,” written by Gibbard and bassist Nick Harmer.  The EP was produced by guitarist/keyboardist Chris Walla, except “Talking Bird (Demo),”produced by Gibbard (see attached tracklisting).

“When we finished ‘NARROW STAIRS,’” Harmer recently told MTV.com, “there were four extra songs that, because we were trying to put together an album, we ended up not including – it’s not like they’re castoffs or anything; they’re part of the ‘NARROW STAIRS’ experience.  They needed to have a proper home, and the EP is it.”

In other news, Death Cab have confirmed summer tour dates, kicking off July 5^th at Los Angeles’ esteemed Hollywood Bowl, where they will perform a number of songs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  The tour continues through July 18^th, when they will play a homecoming show just outside of Seattle at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA.  Support acts on the summer run include Tegan and Sara, Andrew Bird, the New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot. The Seattle band recently returned home following a long-awaited headline tour of Australia and Japan.  As previously noted, Death Cab will kick off their spring schedule on April 5^th at the Sound Academy in Toronto.  See attached itinerary for full listing of dates.

Death Cab also recently released the fantastic video for their new single, “Grapevine Fires” directed by the acclaimed duo of Walter Robot. The video, which has been added to VH1 and MTV2,  has become an online phenomenon. You can view it here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid4020141001?bctid=13931027001

For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.deathcabforcutie.com.

Death Cab For Cutie

“THE OPEN DOOR” EP

Available Online 3/31 * On Tour 4/7 * In Stores 4/14

1. “Little Bribes”

2. “A Diamond And A Tether”

3. “My Mirror Speaks”

4. “I Was Once A Loyal Lover”

5. “Talking Bird (Demo)”

All songs written by Ben Gibbard, except “My Mirror Speaks” (Gibbard/Harmer) Produced by Chris Walla, except “Talking Bird (Demo),” produced by Gibbard

* * * * *Death Cab for Cutie

On Tour 2009

4/5-29 w/Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot

except * Cold War Kids only and **Ra Ra Riot only

5/1-6 w/Matt Costa and Ra Ra Riot except *** Matt Costa only

5/7 Special Guests TBA

APRIL

5          Toronto, ON              The Sound Academy

7          Upper Darby, PA      Tower Theatre

8          Washington, DC        DAR Constitution Hall

9          Davidson, NC            John Belk Arena/Davidson College

10        Louisville, KY             Louisville Palace

11        Memphis, TN             Orpheum Theatre

12        Tulsa, OK                   The Brady Theater

13        Omaha, NE               Holland Theatre *

15        St. Paul, MN              Roy Wilkings Auditorium

17        Chicago, IL                Aragon Ballroom

18        East Lansing, MI       Breslin Events Center/Michigan State University

19        Waukesha, WI           Van Male Fieldhouse/Carroll College

22        Bellingham, WA        The Mount Baker Theater **

24        Spokane, WA             McCarthey Athletic Center/Gonzaga University

25        Boise, ID                     The Morrison Center

27        Sacramento, CA        Memorial Auditorium

29        San Diego, CA           RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego *

MAY

1          Austin, TX                  Austin Music Hall

2          New Orleans, LA       Contemporary Arts Center ***

4          Nashville, TN             Ryman Auditorium

5          Birmingham, AL       BJCC Concert Hall

6          Atlanta, GA                Fox Theatre

7          Orlando, FL               Hard Rock Live

JULY

5          Los Angeles, CA        Hollywood Bowl               w/Tegan & Sara, New Pornographers

11        Berkeley, CA              Greek Theatre                        w/ Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot

14        Morrison, CO             Red Rocks Amphitheatre      w/Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot

16        Vancouver, BC           Pacific Coliseum                    w/New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot

17        Troutdale, OR            Edgefield Amphitheatre        w/New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot

18        Redmond,WA            Marymoor Park                    w/New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot