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Jun 03, 2016 Death Cab for Cutie By Christopher Roberts

Scottish electro-pop trio CHVRCHES and American indie-rock mainstays Death Cab for Cutie have a handful of tour dates together this month. They include a show in Charlotte, North Carolina at The Uptown Amphitheater on June 16. Many artists have either canceled shows in North Carolina in protest of House Bill 2 or have turned their shows into statements against the bill, which puts into law that transgender people have to use the public restroom of the gender on their birth certificate, rather than the gender they now identify themselves as.

The Two bands have issued a joint statement that explains they will still play the show in Charlotte (and Death Cab will also play a separate solo show in Asheville, NC on June 11), but they will be partnering with two North Carolina based organizations, Freedom Center for Social Justice and Southerners On New Ground (SONG), who are fighting to repeal HB2. “We will not be taking a single dime from these shows. All profits will be donated to these important organizations,” the statement reads. Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard has also made it clear in the same press release that these will be the band’s last shows in the state until HB2 is repealed. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce these shows in Asheville and Charlotte will be our last in North Carolina as long as HB2 stands,” says Gibbard.

Here is the full joint statement from the two bands: “We, Death Cab for Cutie and CHVRCHES are deeply saddened by the recent passage of North Carolina’s hateful and dangerous House Bill 2 (aka, HB2 or the ‘bathroom law’). We are appalled by how Governor Pat McCrory and his conservative cronies have stoked the flames of fear around an undocumented, non-issue (i.e., sexual predators posing as transgender for the purpose of molesting children) as a way to not only discriminate against transgender persons but also to undermine the constitutional rights of North Carolina’s entire LGBT community. This nefarious brand of bigotry is embarrassing for the state of North Carolina and has no place in this great nation.

“Since the passage of this horrific legislation, we have been deliberating as to what to do about our show together in Charlotte on June 16th as well as Death Cab for Cutie’s show in Asheville on June 11th. While we whole-heartedly support the decisions of our contemporaries to cancel their upcoming appearances in political protest, we have decided to honor our commitments and play. These shows will now be staged as benefits for two terrific North Carolina based organizations, Freedom Center for Social Justice and Southerners On New Ground (SONG), whom we admire for their tireless defense of LGBT rights in the state of North Carolina. We will not be taking a single dime from these shows. All profits will be donated to these important organizations.”

Then Gibbard also offered a separate statement: “We have absolutely loved playing in North Carolina over the past 17 years. Not only have the crowds always been amazing but we have met so many wonderful people who remain friends to this day. Not to mention that the music of Chapel Hill’s Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, and countless others have been integral to the ethos and sound of our band. And so it is with a heavy heart that we announce these shows in Asheville and Charlotte will be our last in North Carolina as long as HB2 stands. We sincerely hope we won’t have to wait long to come back.”

CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry also offered a separate statement: “We are incredibly distressed by HB2 and all that has been happening in North Carolina, but are also heartened to hear about so many people fighting to create positive change. I know that our fans will join us and Death Cab in promoting equality, empathy and understanding between people, and we are proud to be supporting Freedom Center for Social Justice and Southerners On New Ground at this show.”

CHVRCHES released their well-received second album, Every Open Eye, last year via Glassnote (it was #9 on Under the Radar‘s Top 100 Albums of 2015 list). Below is the video for single “Clearest Blue.” CHVRCHES were on the cover of one of our print issues last year and you can read the in-depth 8-page 5,600-word cover story feature on the band here. You can also read our bonus digital magazine Q&A with them here.

Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album, Kintsugi, also came out last year (via Atlantic) and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album. Below is Death Cab for Cutie’s video for “The Ghosts of Beverly Drive.” Also read our 2015 interview with Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.

CHVRCHES + Death Cab for Cutie Tour Dates:

06-07 Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
06-14 St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheater
06-15 Charleston, SC - Volvo Cars Stadium
06-16 Charlotte, NC - The Uptown Amphitheater