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24 September 2014

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Live reviews

The National

The National at Academy 3 - 10/10

Steven Long (gig: 20/11/05)
Riding the wave of great reviews that greeted this year’s Alligator album, The National proved that they are one of the bands of the year with a gig that would have melted the hardest of non-musical hearts.

Not that their tousle-haired, heavily stubbled stumble on stage would have alerted the crowd to the brilliance to follow: surely these men were far too casual, too un-styled, too matter-of-fact.

Shattering such notions with a great version of Secret Meeting, The National proceeded to play tracks off the Alligator album like their lives depended on it. Intense and passionate these great songs assumed classic status as the hairs on the back of the neck were exercised with a frequency that was as emotionally shattering to hear as it must have been to play.

Partly this was due to singer Matt Berninger whose classic croon rode the peaks and troughs of lyrical angst and dysfunction with a nervous edge Ian Curtis would have been proud of. Meanwhile, the rest of the five-strong band provided either perfect atmospherics or a heart-in-the-mouth roar depending on the mood required.

At the end of the evening it was difficult to believe a gig could be this good. Quite simply, gig of the year.

last updated: 21/11/05

Have Your Say

Robert Edwards
Gig of the year exactly, breathtaking, seen quite a few live shows this year and nothing came close. I will be lucky if anything comes close next year.

Si, Winsford
Amen to this review - was a blinder indeed!

KD@TSS
Steve - couldn't agree more !!! Great live set that showcased the bands virtuosity and energy. Whatever your musical preferences this is a band you should not miss - if The National gig within 100 miles of where you are - make the effort to get there . . . you will not be disappointed ! 10/10

Julie from Bolton
The last sentence says it all really.

Paul O'Brien
I could'nt have put it any better, i've been fortunate enough to watch some great bands this year, such as The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, Coldplay and local boys I Am Kloot, but these guys are the cream of the crop. And with them playing Karen towards the end (which they don't normally by all accounts) was fantastic. I've never been drawn into a bands live performance so much, i felt like i was the only personin the room, and they were playing just to me, a very special special band.