Printable View
Great set by The national, a bit bummed since they didnt play the two songs off "Boxer" i wanted to hear. Towards the end of their set it got pretty boring, Matt Berninger made up for it by going into the crowd to sing during "Terrible love". Wish i had known about hollywood bowl's liberal policy regarding outside alcohol and food.
Glasshouse tomorrow.
Not the best set by The National I've seen (I've seen 5), but the best rendition of Fake Empire I've heard live, by far. The Bowl is just not as suited for more high-energy tunes with all the sit-on-their-ass chicken eaters.
Sharon Van Etten was fantastic. Neko Case just ok.
This was my first time seeing them and I thought they sounded amazing. I agree about the venue though. Nobody stood up around me and people talked pretty much through every set. I was bummed I didn't get to hear Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks though. I really wish I had gone to the Pomona show last year. I was a bit disappointed with Neko Case, they just didn't sound really tight as a band. A good friend of mine sat next to Anne Hathaway and said she was rocking out the whole time. I wish I had seen that.
Live: The National at Hollywood Bowl (The Scenestar)Quote:
Originally Posted by schaggydog
By the sound of it, they just ran out of time.
Thanks for that. They had the song listed on setlistfm as well. I figured it was due to time, but I was secretly hoping they would do it anyways, unplugged style like in Pomona. Oh well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Goallum
Do they usually play with a quartet? it seemed to me like the drums/vocals/quartet sections were high in the mix and the bass/guitar were drowned, not sure if that was just because they felt the need to feature them more prominently? or if it was just somehow related to the venue? I Was also pretty bummed i didnt get to hear "Vanderlyle crybaby geeks"
The horrors were just as good as when i saw them last time at the glasshouse, they alternated playing one song from primary colours and one song from skying pretty much the whole night. Nothing was played from the first album.
Where's my Elbow peeps at?? I'm just gonna pull my brief review from another forum and tweak (lazy Sunday)
Amazing night. I loved the Guy "banter" throughout. His voice was in full flight in the open air and the Greek was up to the task. Lippy Kids and Open Arms were especially powerful. The quieter moments in general really resonated and the crowd did its part- you could've heard a pin drop during The River. And of course One Day Like This lived up to its anthemic capabilities. I was so damn happy after that song I reached over and hugged my startled friend (come on, it was a bro hug...).
DeVotchKa were also incredible. They reminded me a bit of James in terms of song writing style and they had a bit of a Gogol Bordello vibe minus all the antics and overwrought theatrics. Talented group and I am on their bandwagon going forward.
Great night, great performances by both bands!
I actually did hear actual crickets between the verses during The River, and I was four feet from the stage. Yeah, Guy was kinda feisty last night - didn't see that side of him before last night. And how that man sings is nothing short of incredible. And man.... Craig is effin' SEXY!!!! Must be at least what, 30-40 pounds he dropped? And Mark looks exactly Gary Oldman.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonnyboy11
"...the band on the night before you had a higher production budget, and it's almost always Muse."Quote:
Originally Posted by Goallum
Also, the bit about him liking to to be extra British when he's on this side of the pond was great.
Yea, a band enjoying themselves that much after 20 years. It was infectious. I know there were plenty of soccer moms waiting for One Day Like This and a few folks in my row seemed pretty lost and unfamiliar with the songs (pit excepted of course). Not to worry, I made sure row E, Orch represented properly when it came time to sing-along! :)
Speaking of 20 years together, you gotta love it when a band basically decides mid-show they're gonna do shots and bond a bit.
Oh man, still cannot get past Guy's baritone. That thing soars! Probably the only other vocal performance I've seen this year that would compare (outside of Elbow at Coachella) would be the Elvis Costello date at the Wiltern.
Their production budget for their gigs in England is up there too. Not Muse territory of course, but still. I read an interview with Guy where he says that since their gigs here are much smaller, they have to cut back on the production quite a bit for the tours here.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonnyboy11
BTW, all that New York banter, I'd guess that wasn't just banter. I just talked to my friend who was at the NY show, and he told me how he was telling them the whole night how much he loves New York, and playing there, ending with "We love you, f***ers!!!"
