The National Debut Two New Songs, "Rylan" & "I Need My Girl"

The National's show here in Austin this past weekend was just about perfect (we have pictures/videos to prove it). Seriously, I don't think I've ever heard Austin Music Hall sound so good. Seeing them again live further entrenches them as one of favorite bands. The only complaint (and it's a petty one) was secretly hoping the band would perform a new song or two. Well, I finally got my wish, albeit a few days later.

The band recently performed at Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio for CBC Radio Show Q, and the set included two amazing new songs entitled, "Rylan" and "I Need My Girl". Both songs are down below, so grab your headphones and enjoy. (via)

"Rylan"


"I Need My Girl"


The National | [Official] [Facebook] [Twitter]

The band also performed an incredible acoustic version of "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", with a special appearance from Bon Iver. I really loved how they finished the Austin show with this song. It was such a beautiful thing to see the entire crowd singing along.

Last Night: The National & Local Natives at Austin Music Hall

Local Natives:

"Warning Sign" (Talking Heads Cover)

The National:

"Mistaken For Strangers"

"Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"

The National | "Exile, Vilify" Video

Recently a contest was held to make a video for The National's contribution ("Exile, Vilify") for the video game, Portal 2's soundtrack. The winner (out of 320 entries), as chosen by the band themselves, is about a sad looking sock puppet. I have to say though, I prefer the video that was chosen as #1.00000000001. Watch both down below.

[#1 Video]

[#1.00000000001 Video]

New Song from The National | "Think You Can Wait" [Stream]

The National wrote the song, "Think You Can Wait" with guest vocal appearing from Sharon Van Etten after watching the new Paul Giamatti-starring film Win Win.

Per an interview lead singer, Matt Berninger did with HitFix:

I caught up with frontman Matt Berninger on my sixth night at the festival, and he explained how "Win Win" director Tom McCarthy was a "huge fan" of the band and had been listening to their music as he crafted his Paul Giamatti-starring film.

"We knew he was a serious director," Berninger said, mentioning that he enjoyed McCarthy's directorial debut "Station Agent" and 2007's "The Visitor."

The material of "Win Win" was "just the kind of thing our music would work well for."

"It's about very normal and good people trying to do their best and the struggle to be good," Berninger says.

So upon viewing the movie while on tour, Berninger began cobbling together melody ideas and working with his wife on lyrics. When the band returned to Brooklyn, they hit cohort Aaron Dessners' home studio with Brooklyn neighbor and frequent show opener Van Etten and producer Peter Katis. All in all, "Think You Can Wait" was only completed a month ago.

"This was the first time we had written specifically for a film," Berninger told me. "We wouldn't normally do that, but Tom McCarthy's movies are so good. Watching ['Win Win'] helped inspire the way the song was written. I mean, it isn't at all narrative to what happens in the movie -- we don't mention Paul Giamatti by name or anything. But it was fun, and it's a good song, we're very proud of it."

 [Via]



(Photo Cred: Lindsey Best)

The National | "Conversation 16" Video

The latest video from The National's amazing High Violet (our favorite album of 2010) is for the track "Conversation 16".

The National | "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (Live on Austin City Limits)

On January 15th (next Saturday), KLRU and the great people from Austin City Limits will premiere The National's performance on PBS. If you'd like a sneak peek of the concert, you're in luck. Watch a performance of "Bloodbuzz Ohio" down below. (via)

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

Video: The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

Stream: The National "High Violet"

You can listen to the entire album "High Violet" by The National right now on the New York Times website. It's only going to be up for the week so make sure you get as many listens in while you can. The album is set to be released May 11th.

[The National | High Violet - Full Album Stream]

The National Debut A New Song

The National were in CBC's Studio Q recently and performed a new song, tentatively titled, "The Runaway" from their much anticipated fifth album (which has no release date as of yet). I definitely recommend using headphones if you got em'.

Our friends Consequence of Sound also have another new song entitled, "Blood Buzz Ohio" the band played at live performance a few days ago in Montreal.

[The National Myspace]
[The National Official Site]

The National :: "So Far Around The Bend" Video (from Dark Was The Night)

We first discussed Dark Was The Night back in January. The compilation album (for a good cause) features some of today's best indie artists. Here's a video for The National's contribution, "So Far Around The Bend". This special session was captured by Vincent Moon.

In addition to a fantastic double album, Dark Was The Night will be performed by a bunch of the artists on the compilation live at Radio City Music Hall on May 3rd. Tickets are currently on sale, but you better hurry.

Get more info on Dark Was The Night here. Also, watch Yeasayer's video for "Tightrope".

[Purchase Dark Was The Night]

[The National Myspace]
[The National Official Site]

2009 Pitchfork Music Festival Announces Dates, Initial Performers

The fourth annual Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place at Chicago's Union Park on July 17th-19th. While we've never been before, it does look like a great time, and seriously who doesn't love Chicago? Here's a list of some of the initial performers to be announced.

Friday, July 17th:

Built to Spill
The Jesus Lizard
Yo La Tengo
Tortoise

Saturday, July 18th:

The National
Pharoahe Monch
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
+ many more!

Sunday, July 19th:

Grizzly Bear
The Walkmen
Vivian Girls
+ many more!

[Pitchfork Official Site]

In previous years, Pitchfork has booked the Friday night lineups by teaming up with All Tomorrow's Parties and their "Don't Look Back" series, presenting bands playing classic albums all the way through. Last year, Public Enemy performed It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, and Sonic Youth performed Daydream Nation in 2007.

This year, Pitchfork will be doing something a little different.

Starting on Friday night, they're introducing a new series called "Write the Night: Set Lists by Request." Basically the audience will vote on which songs all four bands-- Built to Spill, the Jesus Lizard, Yo La Tengo, and Tortoise-- will play. When you purchase your ticket, you'll get a confirmation email. That confirmation email will include a link to a page where you can vote on which songs from each band you want to hear. The bands will tailor their set lists accordingly. 

Tickets for the festival go on sale March 13th, and voting starts the same day. Voting ends June 12.

Video: The National at Fun Fun Fun Fest

Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008 - The Line Up

This year's FFF Fest has a little bit for everyone. It all goes down November 8th and 9th at Austin's Waterloo Park. It doesn't pack the "big name" punch the ACL line up does but I feel they are really carving a niche for themselves by offering a much more diverse "indie" festival. You get two jam packed days of music for on $60, which is a great deal . We will be covering the festival and doing out "Spotlights" on all of the artists we think everyone should make time to check out. You can click on the Fun Fun Fest section on the right. Check out a video highlighting some of the artists that played last year.

Here is the line up according to the Austinist...

Stage One:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The National
Atmosphere
Minus The Bear
St Vincent
Trail of Dead
Deerhoof
Rival Schools
Islands
The Annuals
Bishop Allen
Centromatic
Sleepercar
Frightened Rabbit
Spinto Band
Parts and Labor
Colourmusic
Expiremental Dental School
27
Till We’re Blue or Destroy
Paul Green’s School of Rock

Stage 2:
Shearwater
Tim Fite
Magnetic Morning (Adam Franklin of Swervedriver/ Sam Fogarino of Interpol)
Kevin Seconds
the Cynics
Ugly Beats
Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Rival Schools)
Pepi Ginsberg
Frank Smith
Spot
The Revival Tour [w/ Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Tom Gabel (Against Me!), Ben Nichols (Lucero), and Tim Barry (of Avail)]
Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show
Coldtowne Comedy Hr
Altercation Punk Rock Comedy Hour
Matt Beardan
Chris Fairbanks

Stage 3:
Bad Brains
ALL
Dead Milkmen
Flipper
Adolescents
Integrity
Bouncing Souls
Swingin Utters
DOA
Killdozer
Cromags
Scared of Chaka
Young Widows
Leftover Crack
Trash Talk
World Burns to Death
Krumbums
Mammoth Grinder
Cute Lepers
Bitter End
High Tension Wires
Born to Lose

Stage 4:
Clipse
Z-trip
Dan Deacon
Grupo Fantasma
Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon
Dengue Fever
Brownout!
Franki Chan
Toxic Avenger
Hawnay Troof
Starlynx and Bigface
Richard Henry
Yacht

The National Debut New Song "A Thousand Black Cities"

The crowd for The National's concert in Copenhagen was treated to a new song from the band called "A Thousand Black Cities". Here's the video in all its red and black glory.

[The National Official Site]
[Tour Dates]

A Skin, A Night: A Dvd about The National

On May 20 The National will release a DVD entitled, A Skin, A Night (pre-order here). The sixty minute movie was directed by French filmmaker Vincent Moon and will be packaged with The Virginia EP, a collection of 12 demos, live versions, radio sessions, and b-sides.

It was filmed during the making of their most recent cd, Boxer, which was #6 on our top albums of 2007.

The National - Secret Meeting (mp3) [Live]

The National - All The Wine (mp3)

Here's the trailer:

The Virginia EP Tracklisting:

1. You Done it Again, Virginia
2. Santa Clara
3. Blank Slate
4. Tall Saint
5. Without Permission
6. Forever After Days
7. Rest Of Years
8. Slow Show
9. Lucky You
10. Mansion On The Hill
11. Fake Empire
12. About Today