Ben Gibbard + guitar + piano = purty

Ben Gibbard, singer of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, is in the midst of a solo-acoustic tour, and let me tell you this: The guy has written some amazing songs, and they stand up incredibly, even when naked. He plucked songs from both of his bands at the first of two sold-out Chicago shows on Friday night (May 4), plus added a solid new song ("Cath") and a pleasing array of covers, from Donovan, Kirsty MacColl, and, strangely, Nirvana's "All Apologies."