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New Moon Talent Tour with Death Cab For Cutie, Sea Wolf, Band of Skulls and Anya Marina

By LAURA FERREIRO

Actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart attend 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' cast tour at Hollywood & Highland.

Presented by Chop Shop, Summit Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Reviewed Nov. 6, 2009.
 
Performers: Death Cab For Cutie, Sea Wolf, Band of Skulls and Anya Marina.
 

Fans of all ages lined the streets of Hollywood, eager to attend the show at the massive outdoor mall and catch a glimpse of their favorite "Twilight" stars (including Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed) some of whom were on hand signing autographs.

English trio Band of Skulls kicked off the evening with a straightforward set showcasing its edgy blues-rock for the horde of screaming teens, followed by L.A.'s own Sea Wolf, which performed its upbeat soundtrack entry "The Violet Hour," replete with strings, as well as a couple of tunes from its recent sophomore release. Anya Marina, the San Diego DJ-turned-singer and the evening's only female act, offered up her breathy, sassy songs with gusto.

As to be expected from a mall gig promoting a film franchise, the event couldn't quite shake its corporate tie-in sensibility, exemplified by headliners Death Cab for Cutie's lackluster two-song set. The band's soundtrack's lead single, "Meet Me on the Equinox," should have provided a climactic stroke but fell flat, as the band appeared to be phoning it in.

"New Moon's" ambitious publicity campaign also included the takeover of the MySpace homepage this week, showcasing video debuts from Marina and Muse, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and interviews. The film's soundtrack -- put together by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, known for her work on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Gossip Girl" -- hit No. 1 on the U.S. album chart the first full week of its release in October and is still holding strong.

The New Moon Talent Tour continues in six malls across the country with a different headliner in each city, culminating in Salt Lake City on Saturday.