Whilst on a run of festival performances at the likes of Primavera Sound and Glastonbury, The National stopped by Manchester for Sounds of the City. Touring off the back of their latest surprise album Laugh Track, a companion album to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, including collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers and Rosanne Cash, The National gives fans a chance to hear the new songs live.
Opening with ‘Once Upon a Poolside’, a melancholic ballad that brought even the sky to tears, “the rain is finally here” Matt said as he gazed pleased as the rain fell upon the crowd. The crowd’s soft vocals echoed around the amphitheatre as they emotionally sung along. Next came a fan favourite ‘Eucalyptus’, also from their latest release. A highlight was seeing how the band members interacted with the crowd in the first few songs, greeting them like old friends. A woman on the barrier clung to her sign that states it's her 40th show as she sung along.
Commencing a generous two-hour set enlisting 26 songs, The National give the crowd a taste of their impressive musical career. ‘New Order T-Shirt’ was a fitting addition to the set with The National selling their own New Order inspired merch shirt. Matt noting that a lot of their influences came from Manchester such as The Smiths, Joy Division, The Stone Roses, and then jokingly asked if the The Cure were also a part of the Manchester music club.
‘I Need My Girl’ and ‘Alien’ were highlights of the set as Berninger sang his beautifully crafted lyrics whilst the band hit every note perfectly, these songs being something magical to witness live. The bands raw energy on stage outshines the crafted brilliance of their studio recordings. Frontman Matt Berninger stage presence is captivating as he floats around the stage and interacts with all the fans, getting up close and personal as he moves along the barrier making the show almost feel intimate.
As the set draws to a close with ‘Fake Empire’, a moment of sheer euphoria swept across the crowd. The set was flawless from start to finish, looking around there were cheeks stained with tears as the crowd found the lyrics relatable and nostalgic with Berninger’s reflective songwriting. Just when the show couldn’t get better, the encore brought ‘Mr. November’’ which saw Matt vault into the crowd, disappearing amongst the sea of people. ‘Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks’ was a beautifully memorable moment as the band took a step back and let the crowd take the lead with the vocals.
The National are undeniable masterminds of the indie genre and their live performances are full of pure talent and euphoric energy. We’re already counting down the days until we can see them again.
