Main Set

Run Away

Start A War

Mistaken For Strangers

Brainy

Secret Meeting

Baby, We'll Be Fine

Slow Show

Vanderlylle Cry Baby

Squalor Victoria

Abel

All The Wine

Racing Like A Pro

Ada

Apartment Story

Available

Fake Empire

Encore 1

Green Gloves

Blood Buzz Ohio

Mr November

About Today

This was a formal ‘sit down’ approach to a band that is notorious for a high impact emotional response from their fans. This is not the normal type of venue for a band where their lead singer, Matt Berninger, throws himself into his audience - neither was their fans used to being oppressed by the seating arrangements! The auditorium was buzzing with classical undertones, tight drum beats, multi-dimensional rhythms and Matt’s bass baritone voice. It was no wonder that during this set, fans wiggled, swayed and moved within their seats during the first few numbers. By around the time The National played ‘Secret Meeting’, it became too much … all rose from their seats and partied their way through the rest of the set. Berninger remained as aloof as ever when beckoned by a fan, appealing to stand up to feel freer. He responded by saying ‘you can fight over that and I can watch’. The band members seem to compliment each other’s musical abilities. Matt’s performance is awkward as he slinks on and off the stage, eyes down. He seems to demonstrate behaviors like a social worker pent up in a cage desperate to scream. This uninvited guest paces the stage like a puppet, performing yet watching from a distance. Such high functioning ability, yet not appearing to be a social being, may only be accompanied by the complicated, yet simple, varied tiers of trumpets, guitars, strings and beats in a loud/soft style. The lyrics telling stories of passion, love, jealousy, human interaction and just plain ole simple ‘argyle sweaters and a smile’. Talented classically influenced brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner and Bryan and Scott Devendorf, keeps the timing strictly tight, complimenting the rhythmic drone and actions from Matt.

The set included previews from the imminent album due for release in Spring 2010, opening with ‘Run Away’ - a beautiful, desperate love song with undertones of horns, melodic piano, subtle guitars and maracas providing the back beat. In similar vain ‘Vanderlylle Cry Baby’ has the feel of a waltz with a dash of Irish folk - slow, caressing, emotional and passionate. The third newbie ‘Blood Buzz Ohio’, was introduced to the audience as the second song in the four-song encore. Another track not dissimilar to the other new songs, although worth a few listens more. I am unsure if we are going to get any more hard hitting numbers like ‘Mr November’, ‘Able’ and ‘Mistaken For Strangers’ on the new album – but I guess we shall have to wait and see for that! However, these performances from the show didn’t fail to rock the audience and keep the usual professionalism and consistency that ‘The National’ is becoming associated with. Ending the show with ‘About Today’, embracing with euphoric melancholy and finishing with thunderous rapture, I can only write this with fond affection for a band that everyone wanted ‘more’ from… encore after encore please!

This work is covered under Creative Commons License

If you liked this .. then you will like these!

• I Like Trains Gig Review at The Cooler, Bristol on the 20th October 2009
• Romance - The Band - Debut Album Music Review - The Divide
• The Boxer Rebellion - A Gig Review
• The Airborne Toxic Event with White Belt Yellow Tag - Gig Review at The Anson Rooms, Bristol, 8th November 2009
• The Psychosis of Ian Curtis of Joy Division
• The Maccabees Wall Of Arms Album Review

For anyone who wants to share their expertise and earn a bit of money at the same time, why not join hubpages! Just Click Here!

Already Writing?

I started using 'She Told Me' for backlinks. It's easy and requires virtually no effort-- might as well do it. Just make an account, copy the URL to your hubs and you're done. (You need a description for each one but I just copy and paste the first paragraph of the hub I'm linking).  Click on My Profile Page and follow the links!