Technical issues haunted the National’s set last night, and once the band finally got on stage to play (opening with “Brainy”) all issues seemed to have been resolved. Trying to make up for lost time, the band hurtled through a set of material from their latest two albums (Boxer and Alligator). Frontman Matt Berninger noted the brisk pace and say a few words of thanks before a guitar or piano line from the next song would cut him off.
Most songs were suited for the hurried tempo though, and takes of “Abel,” “Apartment Story” and “Mistaken for Strangers” were particularly energetic. Knocking over mic stands and stage monitors as “Abel” began to pick up pace, Berninger contorted himself while screaming the song’s haunted lyrics, “My mind’s not right, my mind’s not right…” into the microphone. With violin bows tearing and guitars screaming, the culminating jam of “Strangers” was quite the ruckus itself.
The band fit in slower numbers like “Slow Show” and “All the Wine,” but the thick, heavy bass maintained the National’s notoriously dark sound well and kept the show lively. A trumpet and a trombone complimented a number of the songs, especially the coda of “Fake Empire” which, at least when I’ve seen the band, is transcribed over to guitars.
They naturally closed strong with “Mr. November,” (”Our last song for a long time,” says Berninger) which saw Berninger again toppling over stage monitors, nearly falling into the crowd himself on a number of occasions. Apparently this is the last National show for a while as the band heads on a much needed break. I think it’s safe to say the ended on a good note.
Setlist:
1. Brainy
2. Secret Meeting
3. Baby, We’ll Be Fine
4. Slow Show
5. Squalor Victoria
6. Abel
7. All The Wine
8. Mistaken for Strangers
9. Apartment Story
10. Fake Empire
11. Start a War
12. Mr. November
