Tonight was the last night of over two years touring for The National and this was their biggest ever show in the U.K.
Wild Beasts were the classy support for the gig as they ran through their latest album. A headline band in their own right this was a special treat.
Over recent years the stage set up for The National has expanded from a curtain backdrop to video screens to now gigantic video screens and full on arena lights, there are now it seems, a lot of people who like The National. Job done? Let's just secretly hope after a good rest the band return, romantically to the smaller venues and intense shows.
Don't however get the impression that there was any disappointment with the O2 show. This was a celebration of everything the band has achieved over the past fourteen years including trips back to the 'Cherry Tree' album and the inclusion of Surfjan Stevens in the band for the night and Nico Muhly appearing on 'About Today'. Only Annie Clark was missing (most probably exhausted after her own St Vincent touring) as she occasionally appears with the band.
A mammoth set of twenty six songs seemed to flash by. The band was in a very humble frame of mind, genuinely thanking everyone throughout the show for helping them to this stage of their career but as usual, chat was minimal and it just one song after the other and really one giant sing-a-long.
Let's hope the band are back and refreshed and raring to go again in 2016!
Pete
Set List
Don't Swallow the Cap
I Should Live in Salt
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Sea of Love
Demons
Hard to Find
Afraid of Everyone
Conversation 16
Squalor Victoria
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
Guest Room
All the Wine
Slow Show
Sorrow
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
About Today
Fake Empire
Encore:
Ada
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks