Touring for their latest album, High Violet, The National made the trip down south to play at the House Of Blues in Orlando on Wednesday night. The album was a triumph of both form and function for the band, earning them critical praise and expanding their rabid fan base. There was no doubt that the show would be stellar; it was just a matter of how stellar.

They got started with "Runaway", a slow burning, intense track from High Violet. Singer Matt Berninger’s baritone filled the room as the crescendoing music faded in and came to a quiet climax.

Up next was the lingering, mid-tempo "Anyone’s Ghost", also from High Violet. The restrained intensity of this song was highlighted in the live setting. The band was now warmed up and ready to lay it all on the line. Padma Newsome’s haunting violin work on the song cut through the reverb and tremolo heavy guitars of Bryce and Aaron Dessner. "Anyone’s Ghost" could have been written for The National’s 2001 self-titled and somewhat alt-country-esque debut, but its subtle sophistication could only have been achieved at this point in their career. After the song was over, Berninger said that it was “the only National song you can dance to” unless you wanted you to do “the Eeyore dance”.

The National then launched right into the first full-on rocker of the night, "Mistaken For Strangers" from 2007’s Boxer. The signature opening chimes on the guitar could have been stolen from Sonic Youth’s playbook, but as soon as Bryan Devendorf’s drums kick in, there is no mistaking what you are listening to. His poly-rhythmic style has helped define The National’s sound. As the song’s fractured beat came together with the cascades of guitars and horns, they set the stage for the next track, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" which could be High Violet’s companion piece or logical extension of "Mistaken For Strangers", musically speaking.

"Bloodbuzz" picks up where "Mistaken" left off, taking the towering wall of music to new heights. Though lyrically they don’t seem related, by the end of these two songs, Berninger had reached a state catharsis and was starting to look like a man possessed. At times, he would step back from the microphone to go over to the drums and just scream.

The first true highlight of the night came a few songs later. The band stepped back to their 2003 album Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers to play one of their most tortured and explosive songs, "Available". The surprise was that after Berninger screams “Why did you dress me down and liquor me up” until his voice is raw at the end of the song, the band slyly slid into the closing of "Cardinal Song". “Jesus Christ you have confused me. Cornered, wasted, blessed and used me. Forgive me girls, I am confused, stiff and pissed and lost and loose.” sang Berninger over the sobering, lamenting music. That track, also from Sad Songs and rarely played in its entirety, makes the rest of the band’s catalogue look like REM?’s Shiny Happy People.

During the 19-song set, The National played all but one track from High Violet; sadly, "Lemonworld" was missing. "Conversation 16", a fan favorite from the new album, prompted a sing-along to one of The National’s oddest lyrics. “I was afraid, I'd eat your brains. 'Cause I'm evil” sang the crowd in step with Berninger while the band provided angelic backing vocals.

The National also brought out "Able" and "Daughters Of The Soho Riots" from 2005’s Alligator. Before "Able", Berninger joked that he just watched from sidelines as the two pairs of brothers in the band fought with each other. After the song, Aaron Dessner joked back that it was only a parable.

For as brooding, intense and serious as The National seems at times, they were more than personable and down right funny between songs. After someone yelled “Freebird!” they treated the crowd to a humorous story about Berninger nearly assaulting someone in Minneapolis years ago after one of the very few people at the show yelled the same thing. They explained that when Berninger went into the crowd he unknowingly (at the time) found the wrong person and decided to give them bear hug instead of punching them.

After taking the audience on an epic emotional journey, the band closed with the monumental "Fake Empire" from Boxer. As the song reached its frenetic pinnacle, the Dessner brothers raised their guitars into the air to conduct the band to an abrupt halt. Thankfully, there was more to come.

After a brief break, the band returned to the stage for a four-song encore that was as spectacular as the previous 15 songs combined. They warmed back up with the driving and droning "Sorrow". That was followed by "Mr. November", a pummeling track that ended with the Berninger painfully screaming “I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope. I'm the new blue blood. I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November. I'm Mr. November. I won't fuck us over! I won't fuck us over! I won't fuck us over!” as he climbed up the PA system.

The National then played "Terrible Love". As the song slowly adds layers of instruments and backing vocals on top of music that gets more frenzied with every line, Berninger leapt off the stage and into the crowd. He proceeded to make his way around the packed floor of the club while yelling “It takes an ocean not to break.” with every cresting and crashing wave of music.

Once Berninger was back on stage, the band gathered behind him and the Dessners, who now had acoustic guitars. They played a reverent version of High Violet’s closing track, "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", at the edge of the stage without the P.A. or any amplification. The audience quickly realized what was happening and all sound except the band ceased. By the end of the song, the crowd was gently singing along, “All the very best of us string ourselves up for love… Vanderlyle, crybaby, cry. Man its all been forgiven, Swans are a swimmin'. I'll explain everything to the geeks.”

Perfect.

SET LIST:
Runaway
Anyone’s Ghost
Mistaken For Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Afraid Of Everyone
Available/Cardinal Song
Little Faith
Conversation 16
Apartment Story
Abel
Daughters Of The Soho Riots
England
Fake Empire
--
Sorrow
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks


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