The National (band)
Encyclopedia
The National is an indie rock
band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger
, a baritone
. The rest of the band is composed of two pairs of brothers: Aaron
and Bryce Dessner
and Scott and Bryan Devendorf.
where they also met Mike Brewer, Casey Reas and Jeff Salem, to make the lo-fi garage band Nancy (which was named after Matt's mother), aspiring to sound like Pavement
. The band was together for five years, but only released one album, titled Ruther 3429, on Wife Records. The group slowly dissolved when Matt, Scott, Jeff and Casey moved to Brooklyn.
Bryan, Bryce and Aaron were childhood friends who played in several bands together over the years. When their last effort Project Nim broke up in 1998, they joined Matt and Scott in Brooklyn via the Devendorf relationship.
When the band was formed in 1999, it was called The National (although the domain name of the band's website is americanmary.com because, according to Matt Berninger in an interview with Better Propaganda, "[i]t's a song off our first record. We never thought of changing the (website) name, although we should have.") Several of the members continued to work day jobs, while performing free Sunday night shows regularly at the highly regarded NYC Lower East Side venue Luna Lounge throughout the early years, including being involved in New York's dot-com boom
in the late 1990s.
was eventually released in 2001 on Brassland Records
, a label founded by band members Aaron and Bryce Dessner
, along with their friend Alec Hanley Bemis
. When reviewing the album, Jason MacNeil of No Depression wrote, "...The National has created nearly a dozen picture-perfect Americana bar-soaked gems with its debut album. From the opening notes of 'Beautiful Head', the delicate line between polished roots-oriented pop and alt-country has rarely been walked so deliberately with the payoff so favorable."
, released in 2003, was the band's first collaboration with record producers, Paul Heck and Peter Katis
, who would later also produce the band's critically acclaimed albums, Alligator
and Boxer. After the release of the album, renowned DJ Bernard Lenoir
invited them to perform on his Black Sessions twice on France Inter
. Publications such as Uncut
and the Chicago Tribune
named it an album of the year.
EP which included live favorite "About Today," as well as "All the Wine," which would appear on their next record. The release of the EP garnered further success and landed them on a successful tour with The Walkmen
.
Also in 2004, the band quit their day jobs and signed to a new label, Beggars Banquet Records
, because the process of running their own label was becoming "too complicated."
, was released in 2005. The album was met with much critical acclaim and featured highly in "Album of the Year" charts in the Los Angeles Times
, Insound
, Uncut, and many other publications.
The album allowed the band increased exposure. NME
and Pitchfork Media
ranked Alligator as a top album of the 2000s.
Alligator brought the band increased attendance at concerts, including sold-out shows at The Troubadour in Los Angeles and Webster Hall
in New York. They shared tours with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
and Editors
, and played at numerous festivals including the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival
, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Pukkelpop
, and more.
Alligator went on to sell over 200,000 copies worldwide.
and Doveman
(a.k.a. Thomas Bartlett). It was voted as the #2 best album of the year by Stereogum.com
and the #1 album of the year by Paste Magazine
. The song "Slow Show" from Boxer was featured on the NBC
series Chuck
and Southland
, as well as on The CW's One Tree Hill
in its fifth season. The track "Fake Empire" was featured the Season 2 Premiere of the HBO Series Hung
. The song "Start a War" was featured on the international science fiction series Defying Gravity
, ABC's Brothers and Sisters,
FOX's House
, NBC's Parenthood
, and NBC's Friday Night Lights (TV series)
.
On September 26, 2007, the band performed "Apartment Story" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
.
In the summer of 2008, along with Modest Mouse
, they opened for R.E.M.
on the promotional tour for the R.E.M. album Accelerate
. That summer they also played many festivals in North America
and Europe
, including Coachella
, Roskilde
, Sasquatch, Glastonbury
, Haldern Pop
, Rock Werchter
, Optimus Alive!
, Oxegen, Benicàssim
, Lowlands, O2 Wireless, T in the Park
, All Points West, and Lollapalooza
.
Boxer made numerous "album of the decade" lists, including Pitchfork Media
, Aquarium Drunkard, Paste, and more.
, documents the lives of the band surrounding the recording of Boxer and just before a show at the London venue Koko. Vincent Moon's film was widely disregarded by fans who had hoped the film would feature the band and their music more directly, rather than artful attempts. Along with the release of the DVD was a CD collection of B-sides and rarities titled The Virginia EP
.
The National's collaboration with Vincent Moon began long before the filming of A Skin, a Night. Vincent Moon discovered the band after the release of their first album and became friends with its members after a show at Paris's La Guinguette Pirate. Soon after this meeting, Moon filmed his first music videos ever, which were for The National's songs "Daughters of the Soho Riots" and "Lit Up". Moon's photography also appears on the cover for Alligator.
was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner and released by 4AD
(the band's new label after Beggars Banquet Records merged into 4AD). The two-disc, 31-track compilation was released for the benefit of the Red Hot Organization
, and featured a new song by The National and Nico Muhly
titled "So Far Around the Bend." In the same year, The National collaborated with St. Vincent to contribute a cover of Crooked Fingers
' "Sleep All Summer" to the Merge Records
compilation Score! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Covers!. On May 6, 2009, The National performed "So Far Around the Bend" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
.
The National contributed a track to Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
in September 2009, an album in support of the former Polaris
frontman, who lost his wife. They covered the Polaris track "Ashamed of the Story I Told", from their album Music from The Adventures of Pete & Pete
.
On March 10, 2010, the band performed "Terrible Love", the lead track from High Violet, on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
. On March 24, the band released "Bloodbuzz Ohio", the first single from the album, for free download at the official High Violet website.
High Violet
was released on May 11, 2010 in the US to widespread critical acclaim. The album also debuted with first week sales topping charts across the world, ranking #3 in the US, #2 in Canada, #5 in the United Kingdom, and #3 in Portugal, among others. The album has sold over 250,000 copies in the US and 500,000 copies worldwide. High Violet is now a Gold Album in UK, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium.
On May 13, 2010, the band appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
, performing "Afraid of Everyone". On July 7, 2010, the band debuted a new, unreleased track titled "You Were a Kindness" at the Tivoli in the Netherlands.
On October 25, 2010, High Violet was awarded a Q award for Best Album. The award was presented by Bernard Sumner
of Joy Division
and New Order
.
In 2011, The National were nominated for a Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act and an MTV
Performing Woodie.
On March 9, 2011 they released a music video for Conversation 16 featuring John Slattery
and Kristen Schaal
with James Urbaniak
.
On March 11, 2011 Valve Corporation
announced the band would be contributing an original song, titled "Exile Vilify", for the video game Portal 2
.
During 2011, the band capitalized on the success of High Violet and toured extensively in North America, Europe and Australia, including festivals in Ireland, Germany and Bohemia.
's presidential candidacy in 2008. In July of that year, the band designed and sold a t-shirt featuring Obama's image above the words "Mr. November," a reference to both their song from Alligator
and the month of the U.S. presidential election. All proceeds were donated to Obama's campaign.
On October 16, 2008, The National played a rally for Barack Obama on Fountain Square
in their hometown of Cincinnati with The Breeders
. Buses for early voting were available before the show to take voters to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
, the twentieth Red Hot Organization
compilation, was released by 4AD
. Curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner, this album comprised songs by bands and artists such as Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear
, Beirut
, David Byrne
, Sufjan Stevens
, Spoon
, The Dirty Projectors, Feist, and The National, among others. Over one million dollars of the proceeds from album sales were donated to the Red Hot Organization
which is an international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS
.
On May 3, 2009, Aaron and Bryce Dessner curated a concert for Dark Was the Night at Radio City Music Hall
in New York City. Performers included David Byrne
, The Dirty Projectors, Feist, The National, and several other artists who contributed to the compilation.
To date, Dark Was The Night has raised over $1.2 million, a sum that represents all the profits from worldwide sales. Red Hot Organization founder and director John Carlin was quoted as saying "Dark Was the Night encapsulated the spirit and creativity of a new generation of musicians whose work struck a chord and got people to actually purchase the album and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight AIDS."
's Tibet House
at New York's Carnegie Hall
.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger
Matt Berninger
Matt Berninger is a Cincinnati native, Brooklyn based singer/songwriter, primarily known as the frontman of indie rock band The National.-Vocals:...
, a baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
. The rest of the band is composed of two pairs of brothers: Aaron
Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner is a founding member of The National. Together with Matt Berninger, who writes the lyrics, Aaron writes much of the music for the band...
and Bryce Dessner
Bryce Dessner
Bryce Dessner is a Brooklyn based composer, guitarist, and curator primarily known as a member of The National. In addition to his work with The National, he is a founding member of Clogs, and the founder of the MusicNOW Festival. Bryce has a master's degree in classical guitar from Yale University...
and Scott and Bryan Devendorf.
Beginnings
In 1991, Matt Berninger and Scott Devendorf met while attending the University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
where they also met Mike Brewer, Casey Reas and Jeff Salem, to make the lo-fi garage band Nancy (which was named after Matt's mother), aspiring to sound like Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
. The band was together for five years, but only released one album, titled Ruther 3429, on Wife Records. The group slowly dissolved when Matt, Scott, Jeff and Casey moved to Brooklyn.
Bryan, Bryce and Aaron were childhood friends who played in several bands together over the years. When their last effort Project Nim broke up in 1998, they joined Matt and Scott in Brooklyn via the Devendorf relationship.
When the band was formed in 1999, it was called The National (although the domain name of the band's website is americanmary.com because, according to Matt Berninger in an interview with Better Propaganda, "[i]t's a song off our first record. We never thought of changing the (website) name, although we should have.") Several of the members continued to work day jobs, while performing free Sunday night shows regularly at the highly regarded NYC Lower East Side venue Luna Lounge throughout the early years, including being involved in New York's dot-com boom
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
in the late 1990s.
The National (debut album)
Their first album The NationalThe National (album)
The National is the 2001 debut album by the indie rock band The National. The album features a more country-tinged sound in comparison to future albums...
was eventually released in 2001 on Brassland Records
Brassland Records
Brassland is an artist-operated independent record label started in 2001 by Alec Hanley Bemis and Aaron and Bryce Dessner. On their 10th anniversary, The Guardian said of it that it is at "the centre of New York's other music scene."...
, a label founded by band members Aaron and Bryce Dessner
Aaron and Bryce Dessner
Aaron and Bryce Dessner are twin brothers and members of the rock band The National. Aaron Dessnerwrites the majority of the music for The National. The brothers are co-founders, alongside Alec Hanley Bemis, of Brassland, a label that is home to artists including The National, the Clogs, catalog...
, along with their friend Alec Hanley Bemis
Alec Hanley Bemis
Alec Hanley Bemis is a writer and manager for creative cultural projects who lives in New York City.-History:In 2001, Bemis co-founded Brassland with Aaron and Bryce Dessner, twins known for their prominent role in American independent music...
. When reviewing the album, Jason MacNeil of No Depression wrote, "...The National has created nearly a dozen picture-perfect Americana bar-soaked gems with its debut album. From the opening notes of 'Beautiful Head', the delicate line between polished roots-oriented pop and alt-country has rarely been walked so deliberately with the payoff so favorable."
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers
The National's second album Sad Songs for Dirty LoversSad Songs for Dirty Lovers
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is the second album by indie rock band The National. Released on September 2, 2003, this is the first album that the band worked with Peter Katis, who would produce the band's next albums Alligator and Boxer....
, released in 2003, was the band's first collaboration with record producers, Paul Heck and Peter Katis
Peter Katis
Peter Katis is an American record producer, engineer, mixer and musician.Working primarily out of his own residential studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Katis is best known for producing alternative and indie rock bands, especially for Fat Cat Records.-Biography:Katis attended New Canaan Country...
, who would later also produce the band's critically acclaimed albums, Alligator
Alligator (album)
Alligator is the third album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, released in April 2005. The album brought The National critical acclaim and led them to headline a tour, with opening act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album was on many year-end top 10 lists, including Uncut and Planet...
and Boxer. After the release of the album, renowned DJ Bernard Lenoir
Bernard Lenoir
Bernard Lenoir is a radio personality, specializing in independent rock. His program, directed by Michelle Soulier, is broadcast in the evenings on France Inter....
invited them to perform on his Black Sessions twice on France Inter
France Inter
France Inter is a major French public radio channel and part of Radio France. It is a "generalist" station, aiming to provide a wide national audience with a full service of news and intelligent spoken-word programming, both serious and entertaining, liberally punctuated with an eclectic mix of...
. Publications such as Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
and the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
named it an album of the year.
Cherry Tree EP
In 2004, they released the Cherry TreeCherry Tree (EP)
Cherry Tree is an EP by the indie rock band The National, released in July 2004. "Murder Me Rachael" is a live version taken from a Black Sessions recording, while "Reasonable Man " is a song featuring Padma Newsome...
EP which included live favorite "About Today," as well as "All the Wine," which would appear on their next record. The release of the EP garnered further success and landed them on a successful tour with The Walkmen
The Walkmen
The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...
.
Also in 2004, the band quit their day jobs and signed to a new label, Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
, because the process of running their own label was becoming "too complicated."
Alligator
Their first album on Beggars Banquet, AlligatorAlligator (album)
Alligator is the third album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, released in April 2005. The album brought The National critical acclaim and led them to headline a tour, with opening act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album was on many year-end top 10 lists, including Uncut and Planet...
, was released in 2005. The album was met with much critical acclaim and featured highly in "Album of the Year" charts in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Insound
Insound
Insound is an online CD, vinyl, digital, and music related merchandise retailer that focuses primarily on the sale of indie rock and music from other similar genres. The company is located in Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York.- History :...
, Uncut, and many other publications.
The album allowed the band increased exposure. NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
ranked Alligator as a top album of the 2000s.
Alligator brought the band increased attendance at concerts, including sold-out shows at The Troubadour in Los Angeles and Webster Hall
Webster Hall
Webster Hall is a nightclub located at 125 East 11th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues, near Astor Place, in Manhattan, New York City. Built in 1886, its current incarnation was opened by the Ballinger Brothers in 1992...
in New York. They shared tours with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is an American indie rock group based in Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their debut album, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, was self-released in 2005.-History:...
and Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
, and played at numerous festivals including the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival
Pitchfork Music Festival
The Pitchfork Music Festival is an annual summer music festival organized by Pitchfork Media and held in Union Park in Chicago, IL. The festival, which is normally held over three days in July, focuses primarily on artists and bands from alternative rock, rap & hip-hop, electronica, and dance...
, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop is an annual music festival which takes place near the city of Hasselt, Belgium in mid-to-late August. It is held within a large enclosure of fields and woodland—between a dual carriageway called Kempische Steenweg—in the village of Kiewit, approximately 7 km north of Hasselt...
, and more.
Alligator went on to sell over 200,000 copies worldwide.
Boxer
Their fourth album, Boxer, was released on May 22, 2007, and also received widespread critical praise. The album features contributions from various guest artists, including Sufjan StevensSufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
and Doveman
Doveman
Doveman is a band founded by Thomas Bartlett. Originally from Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio before moving to New York City to attend Columbia University. He attended Columbia for one year, when he left to focus on his studies of classical music. After leaving Columbia,...
(a.k.a. Thomas Bartlett). It was voted as the #2 best album of the year by Stereogum.com
Stereogum
Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
and the #1 album of the year by Paste Magazine
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
. The song "Slow Show" from Boxer was featured on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
and Southland
Southland (TV series)
Southland is an American drama series created by writer Ann Biderman and produced by Warner Bros. Television. It premiered on NBC on April 9, 2009...
, as well as on The CW's One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
in its fifth season. The track "Fake Empire" was featured the Season 2 Premiere of the HBO Series Hung
Hung (TV series)
Hung is a comedy-drama series, which premiered on HBO on June 28, 2009. The series was created by Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson and stars Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker, a struggling suburban Detroit high school baseball coach who resorts to male prostitution. The second season premiered on June 27,...
. The song "Start a War" was featured on the international science fiction series Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity (TV series)
Defying Gravity is a multi-nationally produced space travel television science fiction drama series, first aired on August 2, 2009 on ABC and CTV and canceled in the autumn of 2009...
, ABC's Brothers and Sisters,
FOX's House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, NBC's Parenthood
Parenthood (2010 TV series)
Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC...
, and NBC's Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
.
On September 26, 2007, the band performed "Apartment Story" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
.
In the summer of 2008, along with Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
, they opened for R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
on the promotional tour for the R.E.M. album Accelerate
Accelerate (R.E.M. album)
Accelerate is the 14th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate was intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun. R.E.M...
. That summer they also played many festivals in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including Coachella
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
, Roskilde
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
, Sasquatch, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, Haldern Pop
Haldern Pop
Haldern Pop is an annual German open air music festival. In 2008 it will be held for the 25th time. It takes place in Rees-Haldern .-Focus:...
, Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter is a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, near Leuven, since 1974. It is one of the five biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe...
, Optimus Alive!
Optimus Alive!
Optimus Alive!, or simply Alive!, is a music and arts festival which takes place in the Algés riverside, in Oeiras, Portugal. The first edition took place in 2007. Despite its recent creation, the festival has achieved considerable popularity both inside and outside of Portugal, with the UK...
, Oxegen, Benicàssim
Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is an annual music festival which takes place in the village of Benicàssim, province of Castelló, Valencian Community in Spain. It focuses mainly on pop, rock and electronica artists, as well as having other elements besides music like short films,...
, Lowlands, O2 Wireless, T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, All Points West, and Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
.
Boxer made numerous "album of the decade" lists, including Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Aquarium Drunkard, Paste, and more.
A Skin, a Night and The Virginia EP
In May 2008, the band released their first feature-length documentary film entitled A Skin, a Night on DVD. The film, directed by filmmaker Vincent MoonVincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
, documents the lives of the band surrounding the recording of Boxer and just before a show at the London venue Koko. Vincent Moon's film was widely disregarded by fans who had hoped the film would feature the band and their music more directly, rather than artful attempts. Along with the release of the DVD was a CD collection of B-sides and rarities titled The Virginia EP
The Virginia EP
The Virginia EP is a 2008 EP/compilation album by The National, released on May 20, 2008 by Beggars Banquet Records. The CD was released along with a DVD featuring the band's documentary film A Skin, a Night by filmmaker Vincent Moon....
.
The National's collaboration with Vincent Moon began long before the filming of A Skin, a Night. Vincent Moon discovered the band after the release of their first album and became friends with its members after a show at Paris's La Guinguette Pirate. Soon after this meeting, Moon filmed his first music videos ever, which were for The National's songs "Daughters of the Soho Riots" and "Lit Up". Moon's photography also appears on the cover for Alligator.
High Violet and recent activity
On February 17, 2009, a compilation album titled Dark Was the NightDark Was the Night
Dark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS...
was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner and released by 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
(the band's new label after Beggars Banquet Records merged into 4AD). The two-disc, 31-track compilation was released for the benefit of the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
, and featured a new song by The National and Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly is a contemporary classical music composer, who has worked and recorded with classical and pop/rock musicians. He currently lives in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan in New York City.-Early years:...
titled "So Far Around the Bend." In the same year, The National collaborated with St. Vincent to contribute a cover of Crooked Fingers
Crooked Fingers
Crooked Fingers is a North Carolina band led by former Archers of Loaf lead singer Eric Bachmann. The band was previously based in Seattle, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Denver. The band released albums on WARM Records and Merge Records before going completely independent in 2008...
' "Sleep All Summer" to the Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
compilation Score! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Covers!. On May 6, 2009, The National performed "So Far Around the Bend" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
.
The National contributed a track to Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy is a tribute album to former Polaris and Miracle Legion front man Mark Mulcahy released under the Shout! Factory label in 2009....
in September 2009, an album in support of the former Polaris
Polaris (band)
Polaris was a one-off musical project in the mid-1990s involving members of the New Haven indie rock band Miracle Legion.Mark Mulcahy, Spot "Scott" Boutier, and Dave McCaffrey performed music for the Nickelodeon television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete under the name Polaris because fourth...
frontman, who lost his wife. They covered the Polaris track "Ashamed of the Story I Told", from their album Music from The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Music from The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Music from the Adventures of Pete & Pete is a studio album by the band Polaris, a one-off project involving members of the late '80s and early '90s band Miracle Legion. It features twelve songs composed by the band for the cult Nickelodeon television series, The Adventures of Pete & Pete...
.
On March 10, 2010, the band performed "Terrible Love", the lead track from High Violet, on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
. On March 24, the band released "Bloodbuzz Ohio", the first single from the album, for free download at the official High Violet website.
High Violet
High Violet
High Violet is the fifth studio album by The National, which was released on May 10, 2010 in Europe and on May 11, 2010 in North America via 4AD. The band produced the album themselves assisted by Peter Katis with whom they worked on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in...
was released on May 11, 2010 in the US to widespread critical acclaim. The album also debuted with first week sales topping charts across the world, ranking #3 in the US, #2 in Canada, #5 in the United Kingdom, and #3 in Portugal, among others. The album has sold over 250,000 copies in the US and 500,000 copies worldwide. High Violet is now a Gold Album in UK, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium.
On May 13, 2010, the band appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, performing "Afraid of Everyone". On July 7, 2010, the band debuted a new, unreleased track titled "You Were a Kindness" at the Tivoli in the Netherlands.
On October 25, 2010, High Violet was awarded a Q award for Best Album. The award was presented by Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
.
In 2011, The National were nominated for a Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act and an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Performing Woodie.
On March 9, 2011 they released a music video for Conversation 16 featuring John Slattery
John Slattery
John M. Slattery, Jr. is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. He has been nominated for many awards, and has won two SAG Awards with the Mad Men ensemble....
and Kristen Schaal
Kristen Schaal
Kristen Schaal is an American actress, writer and comedienne, best known for her role as Mel in the HBO series Flight of the Conchords, as Louise in Bob's Burgers and as a contributor on The Daily Show.-Early life:...
with James Urbaniak
James Urbaniak
James Christian Urbaniak is an American actor. Urbaniak was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife Julie and their twins, son Severn Jerzy and daughter Esme Maeve....
.
On March 11, 2011 Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is an American video game development and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States...
announced the band would be contributing an original song, titled "Exile Vilify", for the video game Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2 is a first-person puzzle-platform video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The sequel to the 2007 video game Portal, it was announced on March 5, 2010, following a week-long alternate reality game based on new patches to the original game...
.
During 2011, the band capitalized on the success of High Violet and toured extensively in North America, Europe and Australia, including festivals in Ireland, Germany and Bohemia.
2008 US presidential election
The band supported Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's presidential candidacy in 2008. In July of that year, the band designed and sold a t-shirt featuring Obama's image above the words "Mr. November," a reference to both their song from Alligator
Alligator (album)
Alligator is the third album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, released in April 2005. The album brought The National critical acclaim and led them to headline a tour, with opening act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album was on many year-end top 10 lists, including Uncut and Planet...
and the month of the U.S. presidential election. All proceeds were donated to Obama's campaign.
On October 16, 2008, The National played a rally for Barack Obama on Fountain Square
Fountain Square, Cincinnati
Fountain Square is a city square in Cincinnati. Founded in 1871, it was renovated in 1971 and 2005 and currently features many shops, restaurants, hotels, and offices.- History :...
in their hometown of Cincinnati with The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
. Buses for early voting were available before the show to take voters to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
2010 Mid Term Election
On September 28, 2010, The National played in front of over 25,000 people before a speech by President Obama at a rally in Madison, WI.Dark Was the Night
On February 17, 2009, Dark Was the NightDark Was the Night
Dark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS...
, the twentieth Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
compilation, was released by 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
. Curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner, this album comprised songs by bands and artists such as Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, Beirut
Beirut (band)
Beirut is an American band which was originally the solo musical project of Santa Fe native Zachary Francis Condon, and later expanded into a band. The band's first performances were in Wollaston, United Kingdom, in May 2006, to support the release of their debut album, Gulag Orkestar...
, David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
, Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
, The Dirty Projectors, Feist, and The National, among others. Over one million dollars of the proceeds from album sales were donated to the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
which is an international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
On May 3, 2009, Aaron and Bryce Dessner curated a concert for Dark Was the Night at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
in New York City. Performers included David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
, The Dirty Projectors, Feist, The National, and several other artists who contributed to the compilation.
To date, Dark Was The Night has raised over $1.2 million, a sum that represents all the profits from worldwide sales. Red Hot Organization founder and director John Carlin was quoted as saying "Dark Was the Night encapsulated the spirit and creativity of a new generation of musicians whose work struck a chord and got people to actually purchase the album and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight AIDS."
Other benefit concerts
On February 3, 2009, The National played at a benefit show for Philip GlassPhilip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
's Tibet House
Tibet House
Tibet House US was founded in 1987 by Columbia University professor Robert Thurman, actor Richard Gere and modern composer Philip Glass at the behest of the 14th H.H. Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. It was initially organized in New York City, USA, and the Tibet House US is still based there...
at New York's Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
Discography
- The NationalThe National (album)The National is the 2001 debut album by the indie rock band The National. The album features a more country-tinged sound in comparison to future albums...
(2001) - Sad Songs for Dirty LoversSad Songs for Dirty LoversSad Songs for Dirty Lovers is the second album by indie rock band The National. Released on September 2, 2003, this is the first album that the band worked with Peter Katis, who would produce the band's next albums Alligator and Boxer....
(2003) - AlligatorAlligator (album)Alligator is the third album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, released in April 2005. The album brought The National critical acclaim and led them to headline a tour, with opening act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album was on many year-end top 10 lists, including Uncut and Planet...
(2005) - BoxerBoxer (album)Boxer is the fourth studio album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National. It was released on May 22, 2007 by Beggars Banquet Records, and has since sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. The album features a guest performance by Sufjan Stevens on "Ada" and "Racing Like a Pro" and backing vocals...
(2007) - High VioletHigh VioletHigh Violet is the fifth studio album by The National, which was released on May 10, 2010 in Europe and on May 11, 2010 in North America via 4AD. The band produced the album themselves assisted by Peter Katis with whom they worked on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in...
(2010)