The National have proven to be one of the more commanding live acts and singer Matt Berninger a most unlikely rock star. Dressed in a three-piece suit the bearded Berninger looks more professorial than indie rocker. Yet, his soulful baritone and literate lyrics helped catapult the band beyond the indie hype.
They answered the question of how will the new songs sound live right off the bat by opening with “Runway” off of High Violet. As the song has been getting a lot of play on local radio it was a bold move. Who opens up a show with their current hit? It worked brilliantly, the held the crowd under their thrall from that point forward.
The addition of a horn section and a keyboard/violinist aided in fleshing out the new songs live sound and added depth and additional harmonies to the some of the older songs. It wasn’t perfect throughout, but positives outweighed the few negatives.
Overall the band has a kind of shoe-gazey stage presence. Most of the time singer Berninger leans on his microphone stand as if its holding him up, but occasionally punctuates a song by slamming the stand into the stage or swinging it around to face drummer Bryan Devendorf while singing. Guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner can be seen taking visual cues from each other or exchanging looks, but do not indulge in cliche rock guitar moves. Yet despite the low key stage show the National are a very captivating band to watch.
SETLIST:
Runaway
Mistaken for Strangers
Anyone’s Ghost
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Brainy
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Afraid of Everyone
Little Faith
All the Wine
Available/Cardinal Song
Conversation 16
Apartment Story
Sorrow
Abel
England
Fake Empire
ENCORE:
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Secret Meeting
Mr. November
Terrible Love
