National - Academy, Manchester, 10/11/2007

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 23 / 11 / 2007

intro

Dixie Ernill watches the much acclaimed National play a stunning and often unexpected set at the Academy in Manchester

It’s a cold Sunday evening and I’m in two minds whether or not to drive down to Manchester to see the National. ‘Alligator’ was, however, one of my favourite records of 2005, so even the lure of a warm fire cannot deter me. From the moment the band kick off with a couple of gems from their current LP, ‘The Boxer’, I realise I’m in for a treat. The opener is 'Start A War', which ends in a boisterous duel of guitars and electric violin and easily transcends its recorded self. An excellent 'Secret Meeting' is the first of several tracks from ‘Alligator’, but it is tracks from ‘The Boxer’ that make up the bulk of the set. Singer Matt Berninger also finds time between songs to share a joke with the audience about his checked shirt resembling a pyjama top. 'Slow Show' is quite stunning before a riotous 'Abel' gets the best response so far from an already responsive crowd. But this is merely mid-set and the band make no let up as they launch into a high class trio of ‘The Boxer’ tracks culminating in an awesome live interpretation of current single 'Apartment Story'. An unexpected airing of 'Daughters Of The Soho Riots' delights the crowd further before the set is brought to a fine close by a beefed up 'Fake Empire'. Moments later and the National are back with Annie Clark from support band, St Vincent, to share the vocal duties on a beautiful 'Green Gloves'. They then belt through the rallying call of 'Mr November', with the bold declaration lyrics of “I’m the new blue blood, I’m the great white hope” and “I’m Mr November, they won’t fuck us over”. Proceedings are finally concluded with a touching waltz through early track, 'About Today'. Without doubt one of the gigs of the year. The photographs that accompany this article were taken exclusively for Pennyblackmusic by Katie Anderson

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