Live Review

The National – O2 Academy, Glasgow

• 25th Aug 2011

The National treated a near capacity crowd in Glasgow to an excellent set of music that ran to over 100 minutes, including a four song encore. And the audience still wanted more after a high quality show from the touring American band.

Support came from another American act, Wye Oak, named for the state tree of their native Maryland. The two piece band is comprised of Jenn Wasner on guitar and vocals and multi-instrumentalist Andy Stack who played drums and keyboards simultaneously – no mean feat.

Their atmospheric indie sound featured some nice bluesy guitar riffs over swirling keyboard melodies and Wasner’s strong voice was clear over the music. She showed that the high notes and lower registers are equally accessible in a fine performance. The highlight was Civilian from the recent album of the same name, a slower track that built to a big ending. These guys produce an incredibly rich sound for a small band and warmed the crowd up nicely for the main act.

The National strolled onto the stage, tuned up and launched into the opening three song blitz with little fanfare. Their performance is simple; the statement is that they don’t need pyrotechnics or rock star tricks. They let the music speak for itself. Matt Berninger’s dark baritone voice is the focus of their work, although the addition of a brass section added to the depth of the sound.

The set was well crafted, featuring several tracks from the excellent High Violet, but also fan favourites from the previous four albums. The single Bloodbuzz Ohio was an early highlight, as was Conversation 16, its chorus building as the crowd sung along. And All The Wine from Alligator, introduced as a song not played regularly, showed a more expressive approach with its screamed introduction.

The National’s melodic rock sound features brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner on guitars, flanking singer Berninger at the front of the stage as they churn out the choppy guitar riffs that typify many of the songs,. The group’s second set of brothers, Scott and Bryan Devendorf, on bass and drums respectively, seemed content to stay in the background, although the power they bring to the music was clear.

This was a well paced set with slower numbers every few songs giving the audience as much as the band a slight break. About Today and the beautiful Sorrow were ones that stood out with Berninger demonstrating the range of his performance. The temperature was turned back up for the closing combination of Mr November and Fake Empire, which ended the set on a tremendous high.

The crowd screamed for an encore and the band was soon back on stage to deliver. There were several conversations between band members and there could have been some disagreement about what to play. But the eventual Terrible Love and a closing acoustic version of Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks provided a stunning conclusion to the night.

The National are finally receiving the attention that their undoubted talents merit, and they demonstrated with this show that they are a band that knows how to entertain an audience. Many will be hoping for a swift return to these shores.