The National

Following Labour’s landslide victory in the UK General Election, The National arrived on stage in South London for what was an historic moment in British history. “Well done guys, you’ve proven fascism can be defeated,” exclaimed frontman Matt Berninger, in what proved to be a celebratory evening despite the rain and wind being a consistent presence.

“I feel like our music suits this weather,” joked guitarist/Taylor Swift super producer Aaron Dessner before he commenced surprise set opener ‘Runaway’ as the five piece and their large supporting cast eased the Friday night crowd in slowly. A pair of energic newer compositions ‘Eucalyptus’ and ‘Tropic Morning News’ were then launched into to the get the blood flowing, followed by fan favourites ‘Don’t Swallow the Cap’ and ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’ for what proved to be a masterful education in easing the audience in gently.

The National have become one of the most essential bands of the last two decades on both sides of the Atlantic due to the way their songs reflect the disorder, mundanity and existential torment of modern life. Not only that, but the Ohio natives manage to expand their compositions in a live setting and serve them up in a more accessible way that really captures the essence of each track.

Berninger is central to the performance, and he was on exceptional form in Crystal Palace. Following stage fright and heavy drinking earlier in his career, as well as a recent bout of depression and writer’s block, he seems free of the shackles these days and now partakes in more crowd interaction than even before. This was evident when the singer demanded an inflatable alien from the crowd whilst playing the said song. He proceeded to rip into it with his teeth and managed to deflate it in one swoop whilst maintaining eye contact with the Alien’s owner. Looks of shock, awe and hilarity came in equal measure from the audience.

With two recent albums to call upon in addition to the previous nine, the band were able to produce a stunning two-and-a-half-hour epic set that became a communal catharsis at points, with every LP other than the self-titled debut represented. The band even found space for deeper cuts such as ‘Humiliation’ and ‘Murder Me, Rachel’. And of course, ‘England’ made an appearance: “You must be somewhere in London/You must be loving your life in the rain” he sang as the rain, which until that point had been minimal, literally began to pour the second he sang the line.

Closing out with ‘Terrible Love’ and the epic ‘About Today’, the band then gave the soaked crowd one last treat for an acapella sing along version of ‘Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks’, which looked mesmerising in the shadows of the Crystal Palace tower. This closed a devastatingly beautiful evening that cemented The National’s place at rock’s top table.