The National @ o2 Apollo: Review
Personally, The National have always felt like a bit of a grown up band, coming-of-age kind of music that I never always 'got'. In fact, the first time I went to Leeds festival at 17, I didn't even bother seeing them.
That decision haunted me, even when I finally got the chance to see them, it just made me realise what I had missed out on.
Now a few years older (and wiser) The National cut a band who have provided a soundtrack to the highest and lowest points and more so, one of the most exciting, mind-blowing and stand-out live experiences I've had the pleasure of being part of.
Aside from the likes of Radiohead, it's hard to imagine a band sounding so well put together, so in sync that every note and vocal sounds like it's been refined between the noise reaching the audience.
Between them record-quality renditions though is what makes their live presence that extra something. The moments where tracks are taken over the edge and that refined sound is abandoned as Berninger polishes off a wine and launches himself into the audience.
That feeling of unease, perfection being so close to the wire, being on the verge of brimming over at any point is a sound that's become so synonymous with The National and particularly Matt's vocals. A feeling that's only multiplied when brought to the stage.
Amongst a victorious career-spanning set that stretched an impressive 23 tracks there was space for new material to sound like it had been played for years and old favourites like 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' and 'Fake Empire' to still provide that unparalleled atmospheric overwhelm.
Turtleneck already provides a soundtrack that's likely to become something of a fixture in future set lists. Capturing that same raucous outlet that tracks like Mr.November have done so well in the past.
Everything about the show just feels a bit bigger, the brass section playing an integral part in tunes like 'England' adding a whole new level to the sound.
It was also a perfect example of setting and band working stunningly in tandem. The theatric backdrop of the Apollo, a venue littered in history has possibly never suited an act so well. Everything feeling like it had been fallen together perfectly just for that evening (I imagine the following night where they did it all again was pretty good too).