Death Cab for Cutie powers through Cleveland heat wave

• Death Cab delivered the goods, as fans roared during the opening chords of "The New Year," shouted "Bop bah!" during "The Sound of Settling" and swooned to the lengthy intro of "I Will Possess Your Heart."

Friction point: Most of them had to wait in a long line that wrapped around the parking lot at the Nautica Entertainment Complex in the Flats.

• The direct sun on asphalt made the 95-degree temperature feel even hotter.

Workers struggled to move concertgoers into the venue as they checked IDs and distributed wristbands.

• Inside, fans with floor access faced another logjam as many were forced to pour their canned alcoholic beverages into plastic cups.

Yes, but: Death Cab was unfazed, capping a 20-plus-song set with an epic encore fittingly kicked off by "Blacking Out the Friction."

• The sun was hot, but the band was hotter.