The National seem to be one of those bands that is always flying just below the radar. Not quite accessible enough for mainstream rock and not in tune with the current flavor of the week supported by the indie kids and hipsters. Don't get me wrong, they have received considerable buzz and their record from last year, titled Alligator, even made it on to some best of the year lists (#2 on mine). But it feels like they are always an after thought, like everyone knows they are great so we don't need to talk about them. Or maybe no one really knows about them so we should all start talking about them a whole lot more!
The band is currently on a mini west coast tour trying out some new material and playing a whole bunch of favorites from their first three records. I saw them on Monday at the Troubadour and they have another show tonight at the same venue. Monday night was a big night for music in LA as Sufjan Stevens was playing as well as a bunch of other notable indie acts, so I was quite pleased to see that the National were able to get some people out...although it wasn't close to sold out. It's a shame that people missed such a solid performance. Vocalist Matt Berninger sounded more assured and smooth with his deep baritone then I have ever heard him before, while the rest of the band performed with their usual precision, making interlocking guitar leads, bass leads, violin solos and muted percussion all flow together seamlessly. The band seem to have more confidence on stage, which is probably due to touring almost non-stop for the last two years, but still maintain that almost visible sense of tension that permeates so much of heir music. I could go on and on, describe in detail every track they played and gush about how this band should be considered one of the great "art rock" bands of this century...but I have already done that before. All I can say is that the National get it. Do you?
Comments