Thursday, June 21, 2007

ICM: The National



The National

It took a long time for the National to get their Thursday night set started in "That" tent—a delay resulting from the first of many sound issues at Bonnaroo 2007—but once the Cincinatti-based quintet did, it was on. Matt Berninger and company brought the slow-building heat, performing a number of tracks from their critically acclaimed new album, Boxer, such as "Fake Empire," "Mistaken for Strangers," "Green Gloves" and "Slow Show," as well as "Friend of Mine," "Baby We'll Be Fine," "Mr. November," and "Secret Meeting" from 2005's heralded release, Alligator. Sprinting around the stage and climbing atop amp stacks, Berninger sang into the heavens as the stately rock sounds of brothers Dessner and Devendorf soared across an enraptured audience. And for their closing number, the National selected "About Today" from their Cherry Tree EP--its breathtaking, orchestral ascension a perfect summation of the night's performance.

The National's Myspace

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