Not So Far Around the Bend

I have to say I really didn't know that much about The National before I saw them at Terminal 5 this past July, other than they were one of those Bands You Must Hear. I had a few songs of theirs on my iTunes, including So Far Around the Bend from the charity album Dark Was the Night. They peaked my interest because also included on the album were some of my favorites: David Byrne, Feist, Spoon, Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers... okay, a lot of my favorites. And also, they're a Brooklyn band, and there's far too much great music coming out of there. (Fashion? Not so much.)

Turns out that the National was asked on behalf of SPIN Magazine to perform at their week-long 25th anniversary celebration shows right along with Smashing Pumpkins, Flaming Lips, The Black Keys and Spiritualized. And lucky for me, I got a chance to go see them, thanks to the folks at Artlog (follow them at @artlog on Twitter!) who organize all sorts of museum and art-oriented events in the city, including a very fun Art Crawl that including much arting and much boozing.

The day of the show, I made my way over to the Terminal 5 from (surprise!) another show, but luckily it was still early and there was plenty of time to find a decent space to stretch out before the crowds swarmed. As tempted as I was to stand on the floor and possibly have a better view, I've become kind of daunted by all the pushing and shoving that goes on, and decided I would have a more laidback perspective for this show. I walked up to the first mezzanine in the middle of Kurt Vile's set, and I have to say I wish I were more impressed with them. They just reminded me of mall kids with hoodies and someone gave them guitars so they would stay out of trouble. Most of their songs were without lyrics, and not that I have anything against instrumentals, quite the opposite, but without words to center the songs, I just felt like they meandered and I got a bit bored.

Next up were Suckers, who I had see open for Passion Pit at Prospect Park just a few weeks before. Whatever it was that I expected from them the first time I saw them didn't come into fruition, but I don't know why I originally pigeon-holed them in the first place. They're somehow laid-back but intense; they look like your average beach stoners but their music has a jolt to it. One member, who looks like the biggest slacker of them all, sang, played drums and, I think, even a harmonica. I guess I expected their music to be more simplistic, but actually, the second time I saw them, the more I liked them.

Finally, it's the National's turn to kick some ass. Right off of a Prospect Park Bandshell performance just two days earlier, they were ready to kill. I can't remember much about their songs, but I do remember the crowd going crazy, which I guess in the end is the most important thing. I was most amused during one particularly intense moment in a song, the lead singer sort of bitch-slapped his microphone stand across the stage, which made me cackle because I'm 12. They're probably the kind of band I regret seeing not being very familiar with their work because I can't really enjoy it the way a hardcore fan would. Part of the excitement of seeing a show is trying to guess which one of your favorite songs they're going to play. I should look into acquiring some of their albums, but for now, until next time, The National.