[PHOTOS] The National at The House of Vans in Chicago
ALL PHOTOS BY AMANDA KOELLNER The National recently performed a special, intimate show in Chicago at the House of Vans. Please enjoy these photos by Amanda Koellner.
The National
Album Review | The National – Trouble Will Find Me
I don’t need any help to be breakable, believe me I know nobody else who can laugh along to any kind of joke I won’t need any help to be lonely when you leave me It’ll be easy to cover Gather my skeletons far inside “I should live in salt for leaving you behind,” Matt … Read more
10 to Spin | Act As If
As a passionate fan of music, I was delighted to find Act As If’s “There’s a Light” earlier this year — so much, that we at Speakers in Code made it a Pajammy Jam of the Day back in April. It’s a feel-good tune, with the road ahead of us viewed as a positive one … Read more
MP3 | Oh Land – Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National)
Back in August, Oh Land took part in our 10 to Spin series and gave us a playlist of her favorite covers. That was great and all, but little did we know that she had a gem of a cover up her sleeve: her take on The National’s “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” our favorite tune of 2010. … Read more
Pajammy Jam of the Day | The National – About Today
Hey, are you awake? Yeah, I’m right here Well, can I ask you about today? If you’ve ever lost someone, listen to this song. If you’ve ever fought with someone, listen to this song. If you’ve ever really loved someone, listen to this song. If you’ve ever felt something or someone slowly slip away, listen … Read more
Concert Review | The National + Arcade Fire at The Scottrade Center in Saint Louis
A few years ago, my friend played me The National’s “Daughters of the Soho Riots” at a party, causing a few people in attendance to groan and request something “faster.” Granted, it was a party, people were drinking, probably making out in closets, but I would have none of it. I had never heard of … Read more
Jam of the Day | NO – Another Life
Ok, let’s get the obvious shit out of way, Bradley Hanan Carter’s voice is reminiscent of Matt Berninger’s from The National. There. No need to discuss that any more. From the the first time you hear his vocal chords rattle, the familiar baritone is present, but it’s also apparent that there is no intent to impersonate or … Read more
Interview | Cory Chisel: “All I’m trying to really do is to add to the Great American Songbook.”
Photo by Jo McCaughey My favorite Bob Dylan album is, and always will be, Desire. (And yes, I’ve played the wonderful Time Out My Mind and Blood on the Tracks to death.) As a lover of music, its songs first taught me the difference from being angry and being confident, and that telling the truth … Read more
Concert Photos + Review | The Lumineers at Local 506 in Chapel Hill, NC
Words and Photos by Agatha Donkar Glenn Boothe, who owns the Local 506, told me this great story a few years ago, one night when I was sitting at the bar and there were, at best, maybe 20 people there for the show — I couldn’t even tell you who was playing, that’s how empty … Read more
2013 in Review: “If I stay here, I’ll never leave.”
I watched a bit of The Shawshank Redemption last night — turned it on when Andy was telling Red about what he left under that oak tree, and his dream of finding Zihuatanejo. “Get busy living, or get busy dying,” he said. It made me think back to the day when I heard The National’s … Read more
LouFest Day One Recap with Photos + Review | Wilco, Jim James, The National
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco | All photos by Louis Kwok Before launching into “Born Alone,” a track from Wilco’s latest album, The Whole Love, Belleville, Illinois native Jeff Tweedy spoke about recent loss in the area, and expressed hope that music was as helpful to the audience as it was to himself. He then dedicated … Read more
LouFest Preview | The National
Photo by Jason Gonulsen Today, you were far away And I didn’t ask you why What could I say? I was far away The lyrics above are taken from “About Today,” my favorite song by The National. Some of you will know it from its inclusion at the end of Warrior, a fine film with … Read more
LouFest starts today in St. Louis
Daylight come Daylight go How far will it reach Ain’t nobody know LouFest begins today in St. Louis with local favorites Kentucky Knife Fight kicking things off on the BMI stage. From there, you’ll have plenty of choices like Ra Ra Riot, The National, Wilco, and the guy who we’re featuring today: Jim James of … Read more
Contest | Win Tickets to LouFest featuring Wilco, The Killers, The National, Alabama Shakes, and More!
Last week, we began our 2013 LouFest coverage with a Q & A with festival founder Brian Cohen, who discussed the ins and outs of the festival, the bargain that is the 2-day pass (still available here; VIP packages have now sold out), and the new partnership with C3 Presents. Check out our chat with … Read more
Lollapalooza Day Two Recap + Photos | The National, Haim, Local Natives, Charles Bradley, Blondfire, Court Yard Hounds, Family of the Year
Este Haim | All photos by Jason Gonulsen Day Two of Lollapalooza delivered as promised with engaging sets by The National, Local Natives, Charles Bradley, Haim, and Blondfire, to just name a few. The National’s Matt Berninger let out a wail during “Squalor Victoria” that was manic and suggested he was in the wild hunting … Read more
Festival Preview | LouFest Founder Brian Cohen: “St. Louis is about to join a select group of cities that have a world class music festival.”
The lure of a music festival is appealing — a huge list of bands you love, a hip environment, loads of things to do. It all seems so perfect and incredibly accommodating. But if you’ve been to a huge music festival, you know it can also be a lot of work to get from stage … Read more
Concert Photos | The National at Red Hat Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC
All photos by Agatha Donkar Yesterday, North Carolina did its best to make sure we didn’t get to see the National’s fiery 23-song set at Raleigh Amphitheater — the entire Triangle was under severe tornado and flash flood warnings that ran well into the concert’s 7pm start time. But aside from a little drizzle during … Read more
Friday Finds
Hear the new Dr. Dog single, “Stranger” from the upcoming Shame, Shame LP (Rolling Stone) The Tallest Man on Earth talks about his new album (Paste) Watch the new She & Him video (Pitchfork) The National debuts the first track off the new album on Fallon (TwentyFourBit) Caribou announces world tour! (Merge Records) Check out … Read more
Video | The National – Sea of Love
If I stay here Trouble will find me If I stay here I’ll never leave As exhausting as this is to watch (emotions flood near the end), I suppose that’s the reason why we listen to The National: to go all in, 100 MPH into the wind and rain, mostly unprepared for what will happen … Read more
LouFest 2013 to feature The Killers, Wilco, The National, and Alabama Shakes
Well, look who’s all grown up. LouFest (September 7th and 8th) has hit a grand slam with its amazing 2013 lineup, one that features headliners The Killers, Wilco, The National, and Alabama Shakes. This year’s event will feature three stages in St. Louis’ Forest Park, with one stage “tucked into the trees.” Previously, the fest … Read more
Listen | The National – Demons
Well happy Monday to you! We’ve woken up this morning to news that we have our first sanctioned taste of the new album from The National, Trouble Will Find Me, which will be out May 21st. It’ll be, amazingly, their sixth studio LP, which officially makes those of us who saw them back in their … Read more
Jam of the Day | EL VY – I’m The Man To Be
If you don’t know EL VY just yet, you probably know of it’s collected parts as an avid reader of this here blog See, it’s the collaborative project of the National’s Matt Berninger and Menomena’s Brent Knopf — two SiC favs and two guys who apparently make beautiful music together. They just shared the below … Read more
The National Announce Boxed Set, ‘A Lot Of Sorrow’
Sorrow found me when I was youngSorrow waited, sorrow won As you might remember, The National collaborated with Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson to perform the song “Sorrow,” a three-minute, twenty-five second song, continuously for six hours. That happened on May 5, 2013. Today, The National announce a boxed set of that recording, “featuring nine pieces … Read more
Jam of the Day | The National – Sunshine On My Back
via Line Of Best Fit The National have just released a surprise single called “Sunshine On My Back” that was recorded during the sessions for 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me. Matt Berninger’s morose croon dances over a propulsive hi-hat groove and the track is immediately, unmistakably The National, but an element of intrigue is presented when … Read more
The Best Songs of 2010 | 50 – 26
Artwork credit: Alyssa Shapkoff Wanna see the entire list so far? Click thisaway. 50 The Fresh & Onlys – Waterfall Gloomy guitars jangle flawlessly as angelic voices call out of the tugging wind and darkness, pleading with singer Tim Cohen to deliver hazy, yet romantic vocals. [buy the album] [more from The Fresh and Onlys … Read more
The Best Songs of 2010 | 25 – 1
Artwork credit: Alyssa Shapkoff Click here to see the entire list, from 100 – 1. 25 Sufjan Stevens – From the Mouth of Gabriel The most classic Sufjan song of the 2010 onslaught of Sufjan songs, “From the Mouth of Gabriel” is haunting and just plain beautiful. Flutes and clarinets, plucking guitars and lyrics that … Read more
10 to Spin | Maps and Atlases
If you’re anything like us at Speakers in Code, the music tips you take most seriously are the ones that come from musicians themselves. That’s why we started this here new feature, 10 to Spin, which includes a carefully crafted mix of songs by our (and your) favorite artists. We’re giving bands free reign to … Read more
The Perfect Mixtape | Speakers + Summer 2010
It’s been awhile since the three of us at Speakers in Code have offered up a perfect mixtape for you. But, there’s really no better reason to bestow our favorite readers with a collection of sun-soaked tunes than the official first day of summer. Hurrah for plum pudding! Seriously, no sarcasm: we. are. pumped. These … Read more
St. Vincent Covers The National’s “Mistaken for Strangers”
Two nights ago, I dreamt that St. Vincent gave me a bunch of t-shirts. Absolutely no clue why. Yesterday, I stumbled across this video of St. Vincent covering The National at a recent Brooklyn Vegan benefit for Haiti, thanks to You Ain’t No Picasso via Muzzle of Bees via Twitter. (It takes a village…) Listening … Read more
Concert Photos | The National at The Pageant in Saint Louis
To see the entire album, visit our Speakers in Code Facebook page. All photos by Katie Guymon