The National played new songs @ the Bell House - pics & setlist from night 1 w/ Ethan Lipton

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photos by Tim Griffin

Ethan Lipton

"The National had debuted the opening track from their new album High Violet (May 11 on 4AD) on Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night (video) which set the stage for what The Bell House performances would bring. Playing to a packed house, we were privileged to hear 10 songs not from any of the albums, thus presumably all on "High Violet." In form with everything the National have every put together, all of the tracks were really wonderful, but too many new ones for me to give substantive commentary. Bryce thanked the crowd and confessed that tonight was the first night that many of these songs were being performed live and though I'd never heard 10 of them live, several have been played in the past. Often when bands I know play songs I'm not familiar with, it can be off-putting, but hearing these songs just heightened my anticipation for the release of High Violet. Apparently the band has gotten so deep into the new album that some of the old songs seem like distant memories, as Matt laughed at himself when he couldn't remember how to begin Start a War, needing the audience to get him started, reminding me of Dylan's 1964 performance of I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met). Matt also opened up a little on some of his earlier songs, mentioning that his wife Carin Besser co-wrote two of my favorite songs from Boxer, namely Slow Show and Apartment Story; two songs that I really think makes The National one of the best story-teller bands." [backseat sandbar]

The National played their first of two shows at the Bell House last night (3/11). Their band was filled out by both Padma Newsome and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), as well as Kyle Resnick on trumpet, Ben Lanz on trombone, and Takka Takka's Conrad Doucette on percussion. The second Bell House show is tonight (3/12). More pictures and the setlist from last night, below...

Ethan Lipton

The National

Tags: Conrad Doucette, Ethan Lipton, The National

posted at 2:31 PM on March 12, 2010 in music | pictures | Comments (70)

Comments (70)

Matt sang most of Mr. November from the audience... it rocked

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:43 PM

Ethan Lipton is God!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:43 PM

Ladyhawk!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:52 PM

tiny blizzard!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:54 PM

SOOFYAN IN DA HOUSE!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:57 PM

That's a nice mic stand. I wonder if it's new.....

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 2:57 PM

Wow. That venue looks stunning. Need to make it over there one of these days...

Posted by andrew | March 12, 2010 2:59 PM

Conversation 16 was especially stunning. Matt was hilarious, with a glass of wine that seemed to refill itself magically over the course of the evening. By the end of the show, he was crushing water bottles and smacking down mic stands.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:01 PM

reminded you of dylan in 1964?? Nice name drop!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:07 PM

Best sound quality I have ever heard at a show like this. To everyone who had a hand in making that happen, thank you.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:11 PM

how was the crowd? was it way too packed or was it comfortable?

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:16 PM

It was definitely over capacity. I've been to 20 or so shows at the Bell House and this was by far the most packed I've ever seen it.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:19 PM

it was surpisingly comfortable

Posted by jv | March 12, 2010 3:22 PM

Totally disagree with 3:19
Was comfortable where I was standing. The room has seemed more crowded before, and I've been to 21 or so shows at the Bell House

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:24 PM

Eugene Mirman was in the audience.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:24 PM

I've been to 22 shows at the Bell House and I'd say this show was average capacity...unless you were standing near Eugene Mirman, and then it probably felt a bit crowded.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:27 PM

I posted my review on Backseat Sandbar. Matt tried to steal my girlfriend

http://backseatsandbar.com/2010/03/12/the-national-the-bell-house-nyc-311/

Posted by Cory | March 12, 2010 3:27 PM

looks sick. think i'm gonna have to make Prospect Park show.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:28 PM

Ethan Lipton is a friend of mine and he is amazing!

And he got to play with The National!

Woo hoo!

Posted by Alejandro | March 12, 2010 3:28 PM

"It was definitely over capacity. I've been to 20 or so shows at the Bell House and this was by far the most packed I've ever seen it."

this is inaccurate, the french kicks was much more crowded. national was very comfortable. great gig!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:47 PM

pix a bit matt-centric.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 3:51 PM

they just released a few tickets to tonight's show... you need this code: B3E6L6L6H3U5S4E

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:01 PM

looks like they're gone.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:06 PM

I've been to 23 shows at the Bell House and think that Mirman jab was below the belt.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:08 PM

literally think i got the last one. tried to order 2 and they told me 2 were not avail

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:17 PM

Great great show... Matt was silly, engaging and very good sharer. Thanks for the bottle of white wine. It was sweet yet tangy and effervescent like many of the new songs. So talented.

I really dig the Bell House, too.

Posted by red | March 12, 2010 4:18 PM

I've been to 24 shows there....sooo ya know...and my house is actually made of bells um sooooo

Posted by penelope | March 12, 2010 4:27 PM

Look I've been to 247 shows at the Bell House and I am a hipster so eat it!

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:34 PM

I was into the Bell House before it was cool, back when it was a grain storage warehouse. The sound was better then too.

Posted by hipster fuck | March 12, 2010 4:40 PM

Hey 4:34, way to kill A Beautiful Meme.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:41 PM

I've been to about 1 show at the Bell House and I was drunk so I don't remember what band I was seeing and how many people were there. Hell I might have been at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Posted by Venkman | March 12, 2010 4:51 PM

does anyone know what time they went on last night?

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:52 PM

was not there last night, but read that it was 10:15 (before gig, the venue was saying that they would go on around 9:30). going tonight, and aiming to get there for 10.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:55 PM

just pulled up tickets again on ticketweb.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:56 PM

I've never been to the Bell House and I am deeply ashamed

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:56 PM

No tickets available through Ticketweb. Tickets MAY be available at the door.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 4:59 PM

"does anyone know what time they went on last night?"

1015/1020ish

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 5:00 PM

you should seriously keep refreshing ticketweb.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 5:01 PM

No Ethan Lipton tonight? Pfft, forget it...who wants my ticket?

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 5:17 PM

to the person who passed along the extra ticket information; I love you

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 5:22 PM

Look, I like the National, good band, but I can't imagine anything about them or their show reminded anybody of Dylan.

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 8:13 PM

Yeah so I went beard shopping with the National so....And we bought trimmers made of gold that were a million dollars so yeah... and we bought some magical wine from a gnome so yeah..

Posted by penelope | March 12, 2010 9:02 PM

"Thanks for the bottle of white wine. It was sweet yet tangy and effervescent like many of the new songs."

Did you seriously just write that sentence. *gag*

Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2010 10:51 PM

Really very great show..... So talented. I like Matt very much. He is simply awesome. Thanks a bunch for posting.

Posted by Remortgage Deals | March 13, 2010 12:14 AM

Thanks. I am going to remortgage my home now.

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 1:37 AM

The article is good provides useful information .I like the article very much as it is very informative and the photos are so beautiful. I hope to see more of such articles. Keep blogging.

Posted by Remortgage Deals | March 13, 2010 3:30 AM

Thursday's show was amazing. I can't wait for the new album.

Posted by Dan | March 13, 2010 11:54 AM

lol. 10:51

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 1:19 PM

Friday's show was amazing. I can't wait for the new album.

Posted by Dan | March 13, 2010 3:45 PM

was friday's setlist much different?

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 5:18 PM

Setlist from Friday. Amazing I spent $20 to see one of my favorite bands play a club show to debut material for their upcoming album. Played for about One Hour and Forty minutes. All other bands please take note.

Sorrow
Anyone's Ghost
Little Faith (Chrome Horse)
Mistaken for Strangers
Secret Meeting
Afradd of Everyone
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Lemonworld
Brainy
All The Wine
Apartment Story
Runaway
Conversation 16
Abel
Daughters
England
Fake Empire

Vanderlye Crybaby Geeks
Mr. November
Terrible Love

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 6:05 PM

Great show except for when he pooped on the stage and shaved his legs.

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 8:22 PM

This was a very well-written and enjoyable post to read.Thanks for the info sharing with us.It's an amazing blog.The way you have described all the things are superb.Keep it up.Keep blogging.

Posted by nutritionals2265 | March 13, 2010 11:19 PM

Just don't get this band. What makes people like them so much? I'd love to hear people's views on this.

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 11:24 PM

11:24 is a Dirty Projectors fan.

Posted by Anonymous | March 13, 2010 11:39 PM

Excellent post.Some great information to be absorbed in this post.Your writing style is super.This is Easy to read that any blogger can follow.thanks for sharing with us.keep blogging.

Posted by weight-loss5102 | March 14, 2010 3:53 AM

Check out my review of night 2 at the Bell House here: http://sonicsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/the-national/

Posted by Rachel | March 14, 2010 4:24 PM

Thanks for an insightful post. These tips are really helpful. Again thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I found a lot of useful tips from this post. Keep blogging.

Posted by skin-care0021 | March 15, 2010 8:04 AM

awesome pics of that guy trying to get the marbles out of his mouth before he sings. too bad he wasn't successful!

Posted by Anonymous | March 15, 2010 9:22 AM

Always been impressed with the National. They've got something that other groups nowadays are missing...it's called talent.

Posted by Data Recovery | May 3, 2010 8:31 AM

I was in the Bell House and i can definitely say that it was very comfortable and cosy there. I have enjoyed it very much.

Posted by Emily W. Ralph | June 24, 2010 12:01 PM

I was there, the place is very comfy you're right Emily. I was almost the last in there and happy that managed to get there at the perfect time. Great concert with great music.

Posted by Hank | June 25, 2010 6:40 AM

I have listened to the whole album -High Violet, and i liked it very much. I think it's something new and interesting.

Posted by Michael | July 2, 2010 1:56 PM

Great music and great photos. Maybe it makes sense to add some videos.

Posted by Mahjong | August 8, 2010 9:51 AM

Guggenheim billed it as a performance piece and it was just an installation. Resultingly, the crowd simply waited for the "show" to start, limiting anyone's ability to freely explore the space (the ground floor was packed with indian-style seaters, and the balconies were lined with people holding onto their spots like grim death.

Posted by منتديات | January 9, 2011 12:55 PM

it makes no sense for them to deconstruct the entire TD North venue to play a show the next night ~50 miles south at an amphitheater (which probably would require a different stage setup anyway). They'd play Providence or Mohegan Sun before that (and I think those are both highly unlikely).

Posted by فساتين - ازياء | January 19, 2011 4:53 PM

I have also heard the High Violet album. Its pretty cool. I have it on my iPod now.

Posted by MySecrets | February 23, 2011 12:59 PM

Ha! I'm diggin the no photo's sign that's awesome.

Posted by Charlotte | August 13, 2011 11:58 AM

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Posted by CarlsonANNE24 | November 22, 2011 4:14 AM

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Posted in music | pictures on March 12, 2010

The National played new songs @ the Bell House - pics & setlist from night 1 w/ Ethan Lipton

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Posted in music | pictures on March 12, 2010

The National played new songs @ the Bell House - pics & setlist from night 1 w/ Ethan Lipton

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