What Goes On With The National

Since releasing "Boxer" last year, Brooklyn's the National has played New York a slew of times, including a five-night run at the Bowery Ballroom, an opening slot for R.E.M. at Madison Square Garden and a headlining gig at Central Park's Summerstage in August.

Lead singer Matt Berninger acknowledged this fact at New York Magazine's 40th anniversary bash on Friday (Oct. 10), saying this would most definitely, totally, for real be the last time they play here for awhile (we're paraphrasing). "We're going to go and make a record," he told the crowd.

Feeling a bit of overexposure might have played a part in the set list, at least for a few moments. They opened with a slow, brooding version of "Son" from their 2001 self-tilted release. Midway through the set, "All The Wine" from 2004's "Cherry Tree" EP made an appearance too. An almost disco-ish sounding "Squalor Victoria" and "Mr. November" had Berninger's passionate outbursts, the latter ending with a full-on destruction of his microphone stand. 

And since it was a party in New York for New York, they treated us to a cover of the Velvet Underground's "What Goes On." Like the VU, they gave it the stuttery, feedback treatment that a VU song deserves, but also added their trademark dark vibe to it

The National don't really need to be one of those bands that do covers -- the slow, beautiful version of "Daughters of the Soho Riots" reinforced that moments before they had their Lou Reed nod. But for a band that's been very successful here, it was a moment where they paid a bit of homage to the city that's been so good to them.  Either that, or they just really are clamoring for some new tunes to play. -- Michael D. Ayers