Though they didn't walk away with any slabs of timber under their arms, it could be argued that Death Cab for Cutie were the all-stars of the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards. The awards show that celebrates independent music of all types welcomed back a true rags-to-riches story in the quartet, who toiled tirelessly on the margins for years before graduating to arena-rock size and scope. They delivered the evening's centerpiece performance, a run-through of their current single "Meet Me on the Equinox," which has garnered the band quite a bit of attention as it's on the soundtrack to current box-office juggernaut "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

In fact, the band's newfound vampire-assisted success is just another twist in what has been a career full of unusual turns. "I don't think we've ever done anything like this, where it's a real dynamic, changing thing," explained guitarist and resident "Twilight" fan Chris Walla. "I love it. I was at the premiere two nights ago and it was great. The movie is awesome." Walla even approves of the film's campier aspects. "There are a lot of shirtless dudes," he admits. "When the shirtless-dude factor happens, it seems a little wink-wink, nudge-nudge. But it's a high beefcake quotient — an HBQ."

Death Cab for Cutie's stunning (and fully shirted) rendition of "Meet Me on the Equinox" — as well as other jaw-dropping performances from Matt and Kim, the Dead Weather, Passion Pit and the Clipse — can only be seen on the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards, which air this Friday, December 4, at 10 p.m. on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU.