Pop Break Live: The National at Irving Plaza for Citi Sound Vault in New York City (January 25, 2018).
With two Grammy award nominations, a critically-acclaimed album, successful tour, and earning a spot on a former president’s favorite songs of 2017 list; The National had a pretty great 2017. It’s only fair that 2018 would act as their victory lap.
They are currently planning a two-day music festival in their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio this April, and this week they celebrated their Grammy nominations with an exclusive and intimate show at Irving Plaza presented by Citi Sound Vault.
The band performed a massive 20-song set featuring tracks from their latest album, Sleep Well Beast, as well as favorites and deep cuts from their extensive discography.
Lead singer Matt Berninger took the stage and greeted the crowd before going into “Nobody Else Will Be There,” the somber opening track from their latest album followed by “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” their latest single and the song that graced President Barak Obama’s list of favorite songs from 2017. A good portion of the setlist featured Sleep Well Beast tracks like “Walk It Back,” “Guilty Party,” “Turtleneck,” and “Day I Die.”
Berninger and company also played classics like “I Need My Girl” off 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me and “Fake Empire” off 2007’s Boxer. They closed the evening with a four-song encore of “Rylan,” “Mr. November,” “Terrible Love,” and “About Today.” For those lucky enough to attend they not only got to see The National perform in New York again, but they were treated to a night of great music in one NYC’s most intimate venues.
Setlist
Nobody Else Will Be There
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
Walk It Back
Guilty Party
Don’t Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
I Need My Girl
Peggy-O (cover)
Conversation 16
Turtleneck
Dark Side of the Gym
Lemonworld
Slow Show
Carin at the Liquor Store
Day I Die
Fake Empire
Encore:
Rylan
Mr. November
Terrible Love
About Today
