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I would have been pretty happy with last night's set. Listened to the new album again this weekend while driving around town, I am taking to it much quicker than Sleep Well Beast. I have honestly retired from concerts but I would find it difficult to pass up another chance to see The National. I wish my first gig was taped but at least I have the night before.
_________________ absinthe makes the heart grow fonder...
It was a really good show, though it definitely takes this band a little while to figure out how best to get their new songs over live (I'm thinking back to that initial Paris performance where they premiered most of SWB, and how those songs sounded compared to what they turned into). The backup singers were great, and I hope they continue to find new songs from the past to use them on.
The crowd was kind of dead, I thought, but of the new stuff Oblivions and Hey Rosey seemed to be particularly popular, which surprised me. And I feel like they still haven't figured out how to get Where Is Her Head right live, but once they do it's going to be a showstopper. Finally, I thought the best performed new song (though it's not my favorite on record) may have been Not in Kansas. For something that could so easily go wrong live, it sounds great already.
It was a really good show, though it definitely takes this band a little while to figure out how best to get their new songs over live (I'm thinking back to that initial Paris performance where they premiered most of SWB, and how those songs sounded compared to what they turned into). The backup singers were great, and I hope they continue to find new songs from the past to use them on.
The crowd was kind of dead, I thought, but of the new stuff Oblivions and Hey Rosey seemed to be particularly popular, which surprised me. And I feel like they still haven't figured out how to get Where Is Her Head right live, but once they do it's going to be a showstopper. Finally, I thought the best performed new song (though it's not my favorite on record) may have been Not in Kansas. For something that could so easily go wrong live, it sounds great already.
I agree - the whole show was very subdued for some reason. The audio was bad as well (too soft). A lot of the new songs are slower and the outdoor setting made it tough. I still had a blast and I really enjoyed the set list but I did think something was off.
It was a really good show, though it definitely takes this band a little while to figure out how best to get their new songs over live (I'm thinking back to that initial Paris performance where they premiered most of SWB, and how those songs sounded compared to what they turned into). The backup singers were great, and I hope they continue to find new songs from the past to use them on.
The crowd was kind of dead, I thought, but of the new stuff Oblivions and Hey Rosey seemed to be particularly popular, which surprised me. And I feel like they still haven't figured out how to get Where Is Her Head right live, but once they do it's going to be a showstopper. Finally, I thought the best performed new song (though it's not my favorite on record) may have been Not in Kansas. For something that could so easily go wrong live, it sounds great already.
I agree - the whole show was very subdued for some reason. The audio was bad as well (too soft). A lot of the new songs are slower and the outdoor setting made it tough. I still had a blast and I really enjoyed the set list but I did think something was off.
The National need a theatre I feel, the Beacon and Gilman in New York are essentially perfect; I did see them at the Studio @ Webster Hall and even those tight dynamics were better than open air.
_________________ absinthe makes the heart grow fonder...
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 9:55 pm Posts: 13819 Location: An office full of assholes
oasisfan35 wrote:
j's brain wrote:
digster wrote:
It was a really good show, though it definitely takes this band a little while to figure out how best to get their new songs over live (I'm thinking back to that initial Paris performance where they premiered most of SWB, and how those songs sounded compared to what they turned into). The backup singers were great, and I hope they continue to find new songs from the past to use them on.
The crowd was kind of dead, I thought, but of the new stuff Oblivions and Hey Rosey seemed to be particularly popular, which surprised me. And I feel like they still haven't figured out how to get Where Is Her Head right live, but once they do it's going to be a showstopper. Finally, I thought the best performed new song (though it's not my favorite on record) may have been Not in Kansas. For something that could so easily go wrong live, it sounds great already.
I agree - the whole show was very subdued for some reason. The audio was bad as well (too soft). A lot of the new songs are slower and the outdoor setting made it tough. I still had a blast and I really enjoyed the set list but I did think something was off.
The National need a theatre I feel, the Beacon and Gilman in New York are essentially perfect; I did see them at the Studio @ Webster Hall and even those tight dynamics were better than open air.
so i'm going to ann arbor next tuesday which is a theatre (albeit more cavernous), following by next friday in chicago at northerly island (a large, expansive outdoor venue literally on lake michigan). those two shows should put this to a good test.
I saw them last night in an amphitheater and I thought they sounded fantastic. The new songs were great and they played pretty much everything from the new album that I needed them to. Great show, better than the show I saw them play for Sleep Well Beast. I do wish they would play Slow Show for me just once, though.
_________________ "I want to see the whole picture--as nearly as I can. I don't want to put on the blinders of 'good and bad,' and limit my vision."-- In Dubious Battle
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 9:55 pm Posts: 13819 Location: An office full of assholes
4/5 wrote:
I saw them last night in an amphitheater and I thought they sounded fantastic. The new songs were great and they played pretty much everything from the new album that I needed them to. Great show, better than the show I saw them play for Sleep Well Beast. I do wish they would play Slow Show for me just once, though.
I saw them last night in an amphitheater and I thought they sounded fantastic. The new songs were great and they played pretty much everything from the new album that I needed them to. Great show, better than the show I saw them play for Sleep Well Beast. I do wish they would play Slow Show for me just once, though.
But you got Brainy!
Which was really, really cool. It was an awesome show. Oh, and Courtney Barnett was really good as well. I came in halfway through her set but I was really impressed.
_________________ "I want to see the whole picture--as nearly as I can. I don't want to put on the blinders of 'good and bad,' and limit my vision."-- In Dubious Battle
I saw them last night in an amphitheater and I thought they sounded fantastic. The new songs were great and they played pretty much everything from the new album that I needed them to. Great show, better than the show I saw them play for Sleep Well Beast. I do wish they would play Slow Show for me just once, though.
Slow Show was my wedding song, though I have probably said that a few times in this thread.
Joined: Thu April 04, 2013 6:27 am Posts: 17549 Location: Port Perry Lodge on voluptuous Lake Perry
given2trade wrote:
4/5 wrote:
I saw them last night in an amphitheater and I thought they sounded fantastic. The new songs were great and they played pretty much everything from the new album that I needed them to. Great show, better than the show I saw them play for Sleep Well Beast. I do wish they would play Slow Show for me just once, though.
Slow Show was my wedding song, though I have probably said that a few times in this thread.
My wife adores that song. Every time it gets to the 29 years part, she's like OH I LOVE THIS SONG. I'm like, yeah, ... just this part, though. Then she has me start it over. We met each other at 30 years old.
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