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31 January 2011
The National are possibly half way through recording their follow up to “High Violet” by now so apologies for the delay in presenting this review.
This was a brilliant performance, all brooding power, tender interludes and fiery fretwork that left no-one in any doubt that this band merits its place at rock’s top table. Crikey, they work hard, going flat out through a set-list that harbours no slackers – one cracker followed another.
Runaway, Slow Show, Mr November, Apartment Story and so many more were utterly all conquering. Vocalist, Matt Berninger is a terrific frontman, striding the stage and, at one point, so far into the audience he was almost outside in the snow. His deep voice has a menace as well as a moody tone that is never less than carefully nurtured by an excellent band, boosted by a horn section.
Dark songs hit the spot with me and no-one in the sell-out crowd had any difficulty being enthralled by our American visitors. With songs this good, memorable is the only fitting way to describe it all.