THE NATIONAL // FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS
The national end their 2019 with four uk arena shows including sold-out show at leeds’s first direct arena!
THE NATIONAL PERFORMING AT LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA - 08.12.2019
PICTURE BY: | SAMANTHA SADLER PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★★ (5/5)
To anyone that knows me, or follows me on any form of social media, it’s no secret that The National are my favourite band. I listen to their music pretty much on a daily basis and when they’re in the UK you better believe I’m online as soon as those tickets go on sale. I was lucky enough to catch them again at First Direct Arena in Leeds on 8th December and I’m so pleased to report that it’s the best time I’ve ever seen them live. I’m genuinely still giddy as I write this now.
Opening the evening was singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis boasting an indie-folk croon that washed over the already packed venue. I must admit it took me a little while to warm to Lewis but her quirky stage presence, stunning outfit choice and gorgeous vocals soon won me over as I began tapping my feet to tambourine jingles and swaying to vintage-tinged guitar lines. Treating Leeds to a proper spectacle not always seen in a support slot, a flurry of giant pink and blue inflatable balloons were unleashed into the audience. Visually it was stunning and it even provided entertainment for those of us reaching up to punch them higher into the air. A great opening act and a lady who has definitely won me over as a new fan.
Suitably warmed up and ready for the main act, I was buzzing to catch that first glimpse of my American favourites from the photo pit. Launching into Rylan, ever the showman Matt Berninger swaggered onstage equipped with a pint to excitable screams and whoops of delight. Crowd interaction was instantaneous, with the frontman taking notes from the front row and leaning over to hold hands with the hardcore fans desperate to be acknowledged.
The National are no strangers to performing live, having topped festival bills globally and playing the likes of giants including Glastonbury, but I’m still blown away every time I watch them perform live. Each vocal from Berninger is produced with such raw passion and every instrumental from the Dessner twins and Devendorf brothers is created with envious precision that it’s captivating to watch.
Following Rylan, The National launched into their mammoth 24-song setlist combining newer singles from their latest album I Am Easy To Find and a healthy pinch of fan favourites including Bloodbuzz Ohio, Don’t Swallow The Cap and Fake Empire alongside Pink Rabbits and Apartment Story.
When you get a band as impressive as these guys, it’s difficult to pinpoint just a couple of highlights as there tends to be so many jaw-dropping moments. From the energetic Day I Die packed with its explosive percussions and soaring synths to the hauntingly beautiful I Need My Girl providing an intimate atmosphere, Berninger and co continued to dazzle as each melody complemented the frontman and stunning female vocalists also onstage.
One particular moment deserving a mention has to be during Graceless as Berninger launched himself well into the audience, hugging and singing with everyone in sight. I’m unashamed to say that I was amongst the first to run over to the man himself to scream the lyrics down the microphone with him and shamelessly gush over the fact I grabbed his face to do so. Yes I tweeted about it immediately so sue me - I’m only human and this was a highlight of my gig life to date!
It of course wouldn’t have been an arena show without an impressive encore and The National aren’t ones to disappoint. Taking their fans by surprise, the outfit opened the section with Humiliation, a song they haven’t played live since 2014 and a debut for this tour. For me, it’s moments like this that really provide that special moment some artists fail to deliver - it makes that one show unique and it’s guaranteed to get people talking long after they’ve left the venue.
The anthemic Mr. November soon made its appearance, the distinct lack of moshpits was disappointing, followed by previous tour closer Terrible Love and the gorgeous About Today before the crowd were prompted to sing Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. Giving his vocals a rest for the final song, Berninger silently but enthusiastically encouraged the sing-a-long and looked genuinely moved at the amount of people singing back.
The National are a band that I’ll never get tired of seeing perform live. The outfit have come so far since the release of Alligator and Boxer that so many of us originally fell in love with and each new release is bringing a completely different dimension to their sound than we’ve heard before. I really can’t wait to hear what they come up with next. I’ll see you at the next show but I refuse to tone down the fangirling.
SETLIST: | THE NATIONAL : FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS - 08.12.2019
Rylan
You Had Your Soul With You
Don’t Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Guilty Party
Hey Rosey
Oblivions - (restarted midway through due to medical incident).
Where Is Her Head
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
Apartment Story
Day I Die
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
Light Years
Pink Rabbits - (Dedicated to Woman in the first row, who bought a Pink Rabbit)
I Am Easy to Find
Graceless
England
Fake Empire
ENCORE:
Humiliation - (Tour debut; first live performance since 2014, dedicated by Matt to himself)
Mr. November
Terrible Love
About Today
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks - (Sung by Crowd)