is the bar set so low that a band like the national is taken seriously?

does anyone know what time they went on last night?

does anyone know what time they went on last night?

10pm

The sign said 10pm, but I believe they went on a few minutes late. I think they played until about 11:25pm.

What time did the opening act go on?

Thought The National were great last night. I want to say they went on around 10:10 and played until around 11:30pm.

I'd also note that The Broken West was pretty solid. I had not heard of them before and caught the last 5 or 6 songs. Reminded me of a more rockin' version of Wilco. Good stuff.

"What time did the opening act go on?"

9pm

"is the bar set so low that a band like the national is taken seriously?"

TROLL.

I'm glad that some of the crowd was respectful, but around me it sounded like a cocktail party at times. Great show, though; this band deserves to be taken very seriously.

wrong, wrong, wrong. As soon as this show was over, I knew that I was going to be in a position to refute how "amazing" the national was on this their first night of its 5 night residency. After enjoying both their set last year at Webster and their brief albeit solid opening duties for Arcade Fire last month, the bar was set pretty high for this homecoming. So you can imagine my dissapointment (as well as the people who attended with me) when the band did absolutely everything they could to sequence an uneven setlist coupled with a few spotty shots of energy. While the bands new album is short on the anthems that broke up "alligators" dry spells, their set seemed to thrive on a subdued cool which sounds great in headphones but put a lot of the crowd to bed. Its frustrating to see a band rip through songs like "Abel" and "Mr November" only to kill the momentum every chance they could. Don't get me wrong, there were a few pockets of great moments but too few and far between to really get excited. Here's hoping their set gets more lively as the week goes on.

wrong, wrong, wrong. As soon as this show was over, I knew that I was going to be in a position to refute how "amazing" the national was on this their first night of its 5 night residency. After enjoying both their set last year at Webster and their brief albeit solid opening duties for Arcade Fire last month, the bar was set pretty high for this homecoming. So you can imagine my dissapointment (as well as the people who attended with me) when the band did absolutely everything they could to sequence an uneven setlist coupled with a few spotty shots of energy. While the bands new album is short on the anthems that broke up "alligators" dry spells, their set seemed to thrive on a subdued cool which sounds great in headphones but put a lot of the crowd to bed. Its frustrating to see a band rip through songs like "Abel" and "Mr November" only to kill the momentum every chance they could. Don't get me wrong, there were a few pockets of great moments but too few and far between to really get excited. Here's hoping their set gets more lively as the week goes on.

i thought the show was great. it's true it wasnt their best, both the band and the audience seemed a bit subdued compared to past shows i've seen. but i loved hearing the new songs. i bet it will get better each night.

can we agree to a moratorium on comments trashing bands unless the poster tells us 5 bands that s/he thinks are good?

I have no idea what shows these 2 posters above me were at but the show last night was excellent. I have seen them before and this was right up there with some of those shows. Band was in fine form, sounded great and the crowd was very much into it. In fact the blogger who posted that the crowd was respectful in the quiet parts was actually wrong as well. The usual annoying catcalls took place and the requisite audience fools who think they are part of the show making comments. Band went on at 10:07 and played till 11:38. Broken West was great as well. A really enjoyable show that had the crowd going wild. Dismiss what these 2 above say, they were probably downstairs drinking the whole time.

here's the deal: the national are a great band but they really mailed in the set last night. i thought it was cute when they started with "start a war" but then they proceeded to play a really slowed down set. after the plug awards last year when they absolutely destroyed everyone, this seemed a little weak.

also, (and this is on the bowery) the sound was off last night. it was too quiet in places and the vocals were mixed a little low. just a messy evening at times.

Geoff, here is the deal-You are completely wrong. The plug awards show hahahaha. Big deal. Talk about the shows from way before alligator which I saw and then say they mailed it in(which they didn't) The sound was not off at all. When was it too quiet exactly?

If you thought the sound was bad last night, then you probably think the sound is bad at every concert you attend. I actually kept thinking to myself last night that the sound was really good throughout the entire set.

On another note, to the people that say they played a mellow set...what were you expecting?

They're not exactly Metallica - there's no need for them to "rip through" songs at every given moment.

For instance, I would love to hear "City Middle", which is among their most subdued tracks. I find their slower stuff more moving, typically.

yeah, if you only are into the national for Abel and Mr. November, what are you expecting when you hear them play? They are not going to invent new fast songs to make for a more raucous show. The people that sold out 5 consecutive nights are there for the other songs too.

"can we agree to a moratorium on comments trashing bands unless the poster tells us 5 bands that s/he thinks are good?"

That would be amazing, but I fear we'd be left with no comments at all and I'd be forced to do my job out of boredom.

can someone please explain the appeal of this band? no bull here. i just dont understand.

where are the hooks?

Mark B. - right on. The Geese..., Apartment Story, etc. not exactly rippers, but i love to hear them live. Not every song has to be "Enter Sandman" to touch the crowd.

hey, they have a 7 inch for sale at the show that was made just for these five sold out nights at the Bowery. i didn't know until i bought one and unfolded it on my way home. only $2.

Tickets are back on sale at Ticketweb for tonight's show.

BIG QUESTION:

Did they perchance play brainy? Please tell me they did...

They did indeed play Brainy.

The 7 inch was not specifically for the show. I got it off Insound when I ordered the Boxer Vinal. It's the Mistaken for Strangers Single with Blank Slate B Side. By the way, the show on Tuesday was amazing. I have seen The National about 5 times and this was the best I've seen them. The sound was perfect and the band was extremely tight. I don't get it. The National are a band that play mostly slower, darker material that is highly sopisticated in the arrangments. There are times when both guitar players are locking in and I am just amazed. These are the things that impress me about the band. Not just the screming parts in Abel. It all works together. Your in for a great show.

The 7 inch was not specifically for the show. I got it off Insound when I ordered the Boxer Vinal. It's the Mistaken for Strangers Single with Blank Slate B Side. By the way, the show on Tuesday was amazing. I have seen The National about 5 times and this was the best I've seen them. The sound was perfect and the band was extremely tight. I don't get it. The National are a band that play mostly slower, darker material that is highly sopisticated in the arrangments. There are times when both guitar players are locking in and I am just amazed. These are the things that impress me about the band. Not just the screming parts in Abel. It all works together. Your in for a great show.

The 7 inch was not specifically for the show. I got it off Insound when I ordered the Boxer Vinal. It's the Mistaken for Strangers Single with Blank Slate B Side. By the way, the show on Tuesday was amazing. I have seen The National about 5 times and this was the best I've seen them. The sound was perfect and the band was extremely tight. I don't get it. The National are a band that play mostly slower, darker material that is highly sopisticated in the arrangments. There are times when both guitar players are locking in and I am just amazed. These are the things that impress me about the band. Not just the screming parts in Abel. It all works together. Your in for a great show.

Tickets for the next few nights are back on sale. Get em!

http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?region=xxx&query=search&category=misc&search=bowery+ballroom&searchregion=xxx&genre=none&beginmonth=11&beginday=2&beginyear=2006&endmonth=11&endday=2&endyear=2007&sortorder=0

how can it not be for the show? inside it says Bowery Ballroom and lists the five nights' dates and openers. jeez, what the fuck is up with getting technical about all the other possible places you can buy it, point is, the packaging was made for these five nights. god, i hate leaving comments here. and then having to read someone post something three times in a row cos they can't read---PLEASE NOTE: If your comment does not appear immediately, it will show up shortly.

to: "where are the hooks?"

Really? If hooks is all that you're looking for out of music, go buy a Timbaland CD or something (which is in no way a dig at Tim).

I first saw The National open for Longwave a few years ago at Fletchers in Baltimore. Thought they were ok and pretty nice guys to drink a beer with but nothing special. Took home the second album and Cherrytree ep..didn't do anything for me.

Considered going to a show this week so I dl'ed a recent performance opening for Arcade Fire and I really liked what I was hearing..Ordered a ticket for tomorrow night's show and hope to find one for tonight as well.