Well, I wasn't there, so if it wasn't the greatest of gigs I sympathize with you guys* and the band. It happens, better luck (for both) next time and I wish you a great show tonight!



*though I'd love to have listened to Tall Saint and a new song even if it didn't come out right cause it was the first time.

: P

Tonight was amazing! So much better than last night - the band were totally energised and enthusiastic and crowd were REALLY into it. Quite a few occasions where Matt's voice was drowned out by the crowd.

Setlist:

Start a War
Mistaken For Strangers
Ada
The Blue Sky (new one)
Baby We'll be Fine
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Abel
Racing Like a Pro
Blank Slate
Brainy
Secret Meeting
Apt Story
Fake Empire

Green Gloves
About Today
Mr November

(Gospel was also on the setlist for the encore, but they didn't play it)

I'm so glad, good for you!
How did Blank Slate go?! : )

Blank Slate was great live, one of the best of the whole set imo.

No Daughters of the Soho riots though

knew it...

Ada was the highlight for me. They really nailed it and it's been swimming around in my head all morning.

Awesome gig. Thanks for the setlist Eliz.

About Today was the highlight for me, i thought it was a great version, really enjoyed Blue Sky as well.

They put on a great show, every song sounded good, great performance and the crowd really got into it, so it was a really enjoyable gig.

The only disappointment was that they didnt play a few more older songs or play another few new songs.

Fake Empire from last night, courtesy of 'Rebel' over on UKK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_U_Amuu-KU

taught it wasnt as good as the olympia show last year still wasnt bad was my 5th time seeing them probably my least favourite.

crowd wasnt great a lot of people there just to be seen and talk through the whole set

Review on State.ie the of Wednesday night's show (nice pic over on the site)

http://www.state.ie/blog/live-the-national-olympia-theatre/


Live: The National, Olympia Theatre
By Niall Byrne

Last year, The National played two dates in Dublin which marked them out from the pack. A slow-burning legion of fans culminated in those three nights to produce a palpable feeling of a band on the cusp of greatness. This week, they returned play another three nights. If the band were hoping to repeat last years’s tremendous success they would have to pull something special out of themselves.

Friends and acquaintances raved about those shows last year. Some were fans, some had never heard the band before the gig. They were zealously converted. I’d heard about Matt Berninger, the singer who was an unsure frontman and his crowdsurfing at the last series of gigs that was so out of character for his usually reticent self. I heard how their musicianship was second to none. Last night, The second night of The National’s three at the Olympia Theatre this week, I went along to see what the fuss was about.

The truth is I’m none the wiser about The National after last night’s performance. The gig was hampered by poor sound (I was not alone in thinking this - uber-fan Ian agrees) - it was like listening to a band play behind a sheet of glass. The drumming was extremely low in the mix, the guitars never rumbled around the room, the brass was a pleasant addition on a standout like ‘Fake Empire’ but was largely lost in the mix. Berninger’s vocals are slightly mumbled at the best of times but his voice only barely carried from the stage to the middle of the room.

Pockets of singalongs from fans could be heard (prompting Berninger to tell the crowd “You’re louder than last night!”) but the gig never seemed to take off despite the best effort of a minority. Parts of the set were clear highlights like ‘Squalor Victoria’, ‘Start a War’, ‘Secret Meeting’ and ‘Mr. November’ showcasing how a band with such understated live presence can at times, lift the roof off. In other parts, it felt like the band had a reserve they chose never to use. I was left frustrated. Maybe it was an off night, maybe The National couldn’t convert me zealously, maybe I just didn’t get the appeal? One things for sure, I neither hated them or loved them and ultimately, to be caught in the middle was the most disappointing thing.

I just had too see them again as i missed them last time in manchester after ticketmaster cocked up with my tickets.... I Flew into Dublin from Manchester on wednesday to see the show (thurs) a bit pissed off when Matt Berninger mentioned they were sick to be leaving Dublin for the uk....... but i'll let him off as it was a totally brilliant night....couldn't really pick a highlight as i thought it was all great... next time they come to manchester maybe i'll give it miss & hope they play dublin as i had a great couple of days & know now why they didn't want to leave Dublin
Had a great time

Blank Slate was one of the best, About Today was fantastic too. I had Ada and Baby we'll be fine stuck in my head the whole way through my exam today. Did the exam witht eh pen they used to sign stuff though so it might have been good luck

I don't know who she is but thank you to the girl who told us where the band were going after the gig last night.

I'm genuinely puzzled by some of the reaction to Wednesday's gig (the 2nd of the 3 night run at The Olympia).

I flew in from Newcastle for the gig with my wife (who I am lucky enough to say is the equal first biggest National fan in the household!).

This was our 3rd National gig, having seen the shows at Latitude last July and at Sheffield Leadmill in November, and for us it absolutely blew the Leadmill away. Whilst their Latitude set was possibly the highlight of the whole festival for us, it was only 35 minutes long - no fault of the band after a lot of their gear went AWOL on the way from the US and they had to set up with gear from Andrew Bird and Cold War Kids. Nor did we have any complaints with Sheffield which we also loved.

But Wednesday was different class again. We were up in a very vibrant Circle where the acoustics were just fine - much better than the Leadmill. Could the Olympia acoustics problem have been felt mainly in the stalls? It certainly seems odd that the vocals and overall mix carried to the Circle very clearly but not, apparently, to the mid stalls. Also, the noisy atmosphere took our breath away, more so considering it was a seated area.

With the only exception of the opener, a slightly flat sounding Brainy, we both thought the band were in great form. Also, I really don't think it's deliberate but Matt's contrast between unbelievable passion at times and his withdrawal from the limelight when not singing just seems to add to his charisma as a frontman. A critic in The Irish Independent on Thursday morning bemoaned Matt's reluctance to maintain centre stage as a failing but I think this totally fails to "get" both Matt's style and his closeness with the rest of the band with whom he is happy to share as much of the limelight as possible, especially as a number of songs build to their awesome musical climax. Squalor Victoria live remains an amazing highlight but it seemed to possess an extra dose of power tonight.

The brass section was a sumptuous live addition on Fake Empire, Ada and The Blue Sky (?). We both loved the new song and so we can only selfishly dread that, once refined, the forthcoming new stuff will give the band the massive coverage they so deserve! When we are struggling to get our arena or stadium tickets on ebay in a year or two, we will all look back on the critical quibbles about sound systems, Matt's enigmatic performance and guitars lost in the mix as sorely missed halcyon days.

So back to the gig. Whilst The Leadmill sent us contentedly, sleepily (almost!) home with Gospel, The Olympia ended with our best yet hearing of Mr November and screaming out for more.

A brilliant night and one which we we won't forget in a hurry. Many many thanks to the band for another great show and Leeds in July can't come soon enough.

Speaking of which, kudos to whoever helped in getting that over-chatty asshole in the pit thrown out.

I don't know who she is but thank you to the girl who told us where the band were going after the gig last night.











Where do the National drink when they are in Dublin out of interest?!