Two new songs from The National this weekend
I am pleased as punch at the audio which has surfaced from this Sunday’s Dark Was The Night benefit show at Radio City Music Hall. How this event did not sell out is beyond me — a superb lineup of The National, Bon Iver, David Byrne, Dirty Projectors, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Feist, Dave Sitek (of TV On The Radio), My Brightest Diamond and Annie Clark of St. Vincent.
You can see Amrit’s excellent pictures from the evening here, and a million thank yous to the awesome NYCTaper site who captured this National audio. Even from the opening notes of Slow Show, this set is warm and full with additional orchestration.
You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you….
THE NATIONAL
LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL / DARK WAS THE NIGHT
May 3, 2009
Slow Show
England (new song)
So Far Around The Bend
Vanderlylle Cry Baby (new song)
Big Red Machine – Bon Iver & Matt Berninger from The National (bonus from later in the night)
ZIP: THE NATIONAL AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
(FLAC files available through NYC Taper)
The two new songs sound lugubrious and richly elegant, as can be expected from The National — just gorgeous. “Leave your heart, change your name, live alone, eat your cake….” urges the cryptic Vanderlylle Cry Baby, “the waters are rising, still no surprise.” I love the power of several strong voices all swelling together as the song is sliced through at the end by that loud and ferocious squalling electric guitar. If this is the direction of the next album, I am even more in love with them.
[image via Amrit at Stereogum, the man with the lens. Also, visit NYC Taper for more amazing live recordings — one of my favorite sites.]
Name: Heather Browne
Love the new National songs. I mean, how can you NOT?
Bruce — May 6, 2009 @ 8:53 am
I know Bruce – I cannot wait until their new album. I just crave more and more.
browneheather — May 6, 2009 @ 9:28 am
[...] http://www.fuelfriendsblog.com/2009/05/06/two-new-songs-from-the-national-this-weekend/ [...]
Two new songs from the National « Heroes of Indie Music — May 6, 2009 @ 10:11 am
NPR’s All Songs Considered will have the entire show up next week. It’s worth a listen. I believe the guy sitting behind me said it best, “This is like a talent assault. Wave after wave. It’s almost too much to take.”
I love The National but it’s safe to say that Bon Iver stole this show. Those guys were incredibly generous and it seemed like they were constantly on stage for backups. That’s Justin Vernon on guitar as the song builds in England.
Stacey — May 6, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
[...] out every other blog in existence. NPR has a full audio recording at All Songs Considered, and This Blog has some National-centric audio and links to lots of pictures n’ [...]
Dark Was the Night :: Wire Reasons — May 7, 2009 @ 8:54 am
I took video of the whole Bon Iver set ( including Big Red Machine) and David Byrne w/ the Dirty Projectors. You can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/chimpat
Enjoy!
Tremags — May 7, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
[...] National tried a few newbies on for size at their recent show at Radio City Music Hall. Listen here! [...]
Media Roundup: Hot New Mp3 Overload! « True Endeavors Presents… — May 7, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
The guitar solo at the end of Vanderlylle Cry Baby kills. These two songs coupled with the new tracks played at the Carnegie Music Hall show a few months ago get me quite excited for the next album.
mikey — May 7, 2009 @ 11:21 pm
yay, i’m excited ^.^
Aubrey — May 11, 2009 @ 12:45 am
thanks a lot!
maaa — May 13, 2009 @ 12:39 am
Dark Was The Night was an amazing show and I instantly fell in love with The National..when will England be available does anyone know? This song became a drug to me apon hearing it and I want more…
Katherine — May 18, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
[...] new Start a War Mistaken for Strangers Brainy Secret Meeting Baby, We’ll Be Fine Slow Show Vandelylle Crybaby – new Squalor Victoria All the Wine Abel Ada Apartment Story (I don’t remember this) Green [...]
general admission « mars is a cold planet — May 29, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
Thanks for posting this stuff. Ever since I heard Vanderlylle Cry Baby in person in their Toronto show I have been obsessed and addicted to the song.
Matt — May 29, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
[...] Hear their entire set from Radio City Music Hall here! [...]
The National « 80 MINUTES FOR LIFE — September 10, 2009 @ 4:07 am
[...] that many of these songs were being performed live and though I’d never heard 10 of them live, several have been played in the past. Often when bands I know play songs I’m not familiar with, it can be off-putting, but hearing [...]
DISCOSALT » THE NATIONAL: LIVE AT THE BELL HOUSE — March 17, 2010 @ 10:22 am
[...] task – the song’s triumphant swell of music had already won me over. England actually surfaced in early-ish 2009, a live version with different lyrics that are about as unintelligible as the [...]
So Much Silence — January 11, 2011 @ 9:01 am