The National (continued)

Blogging is at best a discussion and my post yesterday about The National prompted this comment from Cameron:

Don't know if you all have seen these videos which showcase tracks from Boxer.

Blogtheque

"Start a War" is amazing. 
The blog in general is great. 

Posted by: Cameron Koczon

So of course I clicked on that link and found two videos taken of The National playing a couple songs one night in Southern France. This one shows them playing "Start A War" after a dinner outside under a tree. Here's the description:

It was late, nearing the end of a typically southern diner beneath a great tree. It was obvious that everyone there had to participate. I think it was Bryan who had the idea to have everyone play in rhythm with whatever he/she had in hand-glasses, plates, bottles, trunks of wood. Hands. This unfolded gently, moving a little through the euphoric haze of alcohol, a little through the heat of Spain close by.

How awesome is that? Now I have a small problem. As I mentioned in my previous post about The National, they are playing four nights at The Bowery in late May. The only night I am in town is May 31st and that show is sold out. Couldn't find any tickets on Craigslist or Stubhub. I need two, one for me and one for the Gotham Gal. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Comments

[Jason]

I suppose it's how bad you want to go. I love The National, so I might post to Craigslist that I'd buy four tickets for some other night, plus a reasonable dinner for four at some restaurant in exchange for two tickets...

[jim]

I think La Blogotheque's Arcade Fire video is even better. For "Neon Bible" they play in an elevator, with Richard Perry ripping out magazine pages for the bass line.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1jgpp_41-arcade-fire-neon-bible-wake-up

[Cameron Koczon]

Thanks for the post.
Told you I'd step up my game.

[Fraser]

Just picked up tickets to the Toronto show, thanks for the heads up that they're touring.

[mel]

Fred -- thanks for bringing this band to our attention. I had never heard them before. They and this video are great.

[Grand Egress]

Playing Devil's Advocate here, but only slightly:

As you are generally unsympathetic to DRM, and also generally sympathetic to the techie community that either outrights breaks DRM systems, or devises ingenious endruns around them, do you think it would be OK for you to simply figure out how to break into The Bowery and watch The National from some unobtrusive spot, say up in the rafters or standing backstage or something?

Like pirating digital music or video, such a break-in could easily be a "victimless crime", as people who pay for the show would get the same enjoyment whether you break in or not, the band gets the same revenues (until lots of folks start breaking in of course) and, if you are careful, even the theater itself could be unharmed, as long as you break in using a method that doesn't destroy or harm the building or physical plant.

I continue to be confused as to how we all think IP can or should be protected in a world where we blithely cast off old models just for being old, and also draw arbitrary lines, strictly for our own convenience, demarking where IP begins and ends. I'd wager that for the vast majority of readers of this blog, using the web to share music and video by The National without either permission or paying royalties is OK, but using a physical lockpick to see them play live without paying is "theft".

Why?

[Mike R]

You also need to check out Vampire Weekend. They are another very good NYC group.

http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

[simon]

gosh!, thats really somethen .. thanks for the hook up ...

[MotionBeatz]

Hello,

Please look at MotionBeatz - A Social Musical Portal. It went live on March 11 and has already has around 100 original musical tracks by emerging artists. You can rate music or comment on it.

A lot of new features will be coming shortly.

www.motionbeatz.com

[Alex Reuter]

Thanks for posting about such great music. I've never heard of The National before you posted about them and as I was about to sit down to an evening of coding I fired up Rhapsody (which I got at your virtual recommendation) and put on Alligator and the first song is just stupendous.

Anyway - first time commenter, long time reader - just wanted to say thanks.

[Idlesin]

Thanks for posting this very cool video. I'm also a first time commenter, but short term reader. Just wanted to say thanks for turning me on to some GREAT music these last few months. I really enjoy reading your blog.

[Jordan]

I haven't been here in a little while so it was cool seeing the National pop up on my RSS reader. My buddy's sister is married to the guitarist so I started listening to them a few years ago and it's great to see them getting more attention.

I was going for the may 31 show also, but got tickets for the show on the 29 instead. I haven't seen them live in a while and am looking forward to it in that venue. I'm with Alex on that song, Secret Meeting gets stuck in my brain for days at a time.

I wish I had bought the tickets earlier and gotten the 31st. Definitely would be trying to leverage the extra pair into a meeting with Fred. Darn it!

[Raj]

I always thought that the National was a UK band because of their status on XL Recordings -- didn't know they were from Brooklyn. Their last record is pretty rad.

[Motts McGregor]

I just read that a fifth show has been added for June 1. It goes on sale Wednesday, April 4. Good luck and enjoy.

-Motts