With hopes of elevating success amidst high anticipation for their next album, Brooklyn-based band, The National, kicked off a spring/summer 2010 tour from a renovated theater of the same name in downtown Richmond, VA. An appropriate start to their tour for an unconventional band that blends an old-timey sense of artistry with the spirit of modern defiance. Lead singer Matt Berninger doesn’t play a single instrument so his stage presence ranges from shy Jim Morrison, pouncing alley cat to a really stoked, 6′ 4″ infant, oftentimes clapping his hands in manic jubilation. His elevated intensity shines through as he straddles a sense of reckless danger and vulnerable melancholy at the same time. Yet through it all he maintains a fun and gracious rapport with the audience, rare for a lyricist with such dark and serious tones. It’s a far cry from watching other somber baritones, like Interpol’s Paul Banks, who barely looks at the crowd and speaks only when announcing song titles, if that. The National is somewhat of an anomaly, taking you down a dark path at times but not too self-righteous to leave you on your own.

The sound was crisp and booming in the National Theater and while some of the younger indie kids seemed unsure of whether to clap, jump up and down or just do the Charleston, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Twin brothers Bryce and Aaron Dessner shared guitar duties while bassist Scott Devendorf and brother Bryan laid down the rhythm section with an endless barrage of tight drums and piling bass lines. The band played all but one song off upcoming new album High Violet, which at times left a stunned audience nodding their heads until a tune from Boxer or Alligator came up. For the most part however, these new tunes fit in perfectly if not as highlights. Such was the case with “Blood Buzz Ohio”, the first official song released from the new album, which completely rocked the house. Another new tune “Terrible Love”, which ended up being the last song of the night, felt as though it has been in the band’s rotation for years as no one missed a beat and the audience roared with excitement. “Mr. November” was a real treat as Matt waded deep into the sea of fans screaming and singing with tremendous energy, resulting in a surprisingly considerate swarm of the band’s front man.

Playing right at an hour and a half, the “maybe-a-tad-too-short” concert left the crowd of true believers anxious. But that’s really what you want. Even five minutes after the encore finished, the crowd was still hooting and hollering for just one more song. This concert certainly left me longing for more and I might try to catch them again on the latter half of this summer’s tour. After a few listens of both the new songs live and the full album streaming thru NYTimes.com, it looks as though this will be a good and well-deserved year for the National (the band). Stay tuned for a full review of next month’s release High Violet.

Setlist:
Anyone’s Ghost
Brainy
Secret Meeting
Afraid of Everyone
Blood Buzz Ohio
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Slow Show Mistaken for Strangers
All the Wine
Little Faith
Conversation 16
Runaway
England
Abel
Daughters of the Soho Riots
Fake Empire
——————-
Lemonworld
Mr November
Terrible Love