The National played 'Letterman,' playing free show at Public Assembly this afternoon, Mercury Lounge TONIGHT (tickets on sale at noon)

The National in Ithaca (more by PSquared Photography)

The National‘s new album, Trouble Will Find Me, is out today (Pitchfork gave it Best New Music) and the band took a night from their just-started tour to play The Late Show with David Letterman last night. Video of that is below.

The band are still in town and will celebrate the new record tonight (5/21) with a very intimate show at Mercury Lounge. Tickets to that go on sale at noon. Good luck.

UPDATE: They’re playing small NYC clubs all day, apparently, including Public Assembly at 5 PM. To go to that, email [email protected] and confirmation emails will be sent by 3 PM. There may be more and you can follow their Twitter to find out.

UPDATE 2: Purchase the record IN STORE at Other Music today before 4pm and you’ll be entered to win a pair of tickets (to Mercury Lounge we assume). Winner will be notified between 4 and 5pm.

If you can’t get tickets for tonight, there are still tickets available for The National’s slightly larger scale show at Barclays Center on June 5.

Letterman video below…

—

The National – Don’t Swallow the Cap – David Letterman 5-20-13