la dee da {August 31, 2009}

I went to Los Angeles with one of my best girls, the ever-lovely Azin, to see the best band on earth this weekend. Will I ever recover?

Nope.

Brainy - The National | 
Baby, We'll Be Fine (Live) - The National {update: BWBF becomes one of my fav National tracks when performed in a live setting. The band employs a fuller sound & the result is gorgeous—and although this recording isn't from this weekend, it's pretty faithful to the way they performed the song. Check it out!}

Comments

[Z]

Ann Marie, Jeff and Chris were just as cool as Bryce, Scott, Bryan, Aaron and Matt! ;)

[blair]

This made my Monday :-)

b

PS
An HOUR before you realized you were going North?? That is awesome!!

[liz]

Yeah, we started talking about one of my ex-boyfriends and I stopped paying attention to where I was going, LOL.

And Z, thx for being a trooper and lolling around a good 3 hours before The National hit the stage. I owe you a mochas! xoxoxox.

[Matt Pearce]

Love the clasped hands in the pic-essay. If that doesn't show devotion, what does?
Hope it wasn't too hot down there for you. Nice post, because of which I'll have to listen to another band that I'm not immediately taken with (Antlers, Say Hi -- oh no, too many to name).

And Z must be a great friend to let you drive one hour in the exact wrong direction during that discussion... rock on Z.

[me]

The clasped hands, haha. Azin snapped that photo of us right after Matt sat on the stage NEXT TO ME, and we all helped him down. He was wading into the crowd, singing Mr. November and I was watching him with that expression.

The National was not my favorite band right away - I liked them a lot after a friend recommended Alligator, but it took a little while for me to fall madly in love. I went through a rough patch awhile back and spent a lot of time on their music - but once I delved in, I became fascinated. I spent much of my time feeling understood within The National's melodies & Matt's pinot-laced pleas... but then much of my affection is displaced too. The band's music, thematically, is very masculine & emotive, whiskey-laced in a clean, button down shirt. Most National fans are men - the thinky, intellectual, creative types. Sometimes I wonder if the whole "Music is my Boyfriend" notion finds a literal manifestation in The National's catalogue. I love their music deeply. Somehow, in their music a part of me is found.

Start with Alligator and then go to Boxer (which is better, but more complex). Read the lyrics too, it makes a difference.

And yes, Z is a great friend. I don't think I embarrassed her too much. :)

[Matt Pearce]

Liz, I've had Alligator and Boxer since they came out! But sometimes it takes a kick in the ass to actually LISTEN to them. TheBlissList is my kick in the ass! I'm a music junky like you, but I miss a lot.

After LISTENING to the National (albeit briefly), I'm amazed that the lead singer sounds just a bit like my fave Bill Callahan of Smog. Hmmmmm. Why didn't I hear that before?

And to Z: don't be embarrassed. Unless you were driving north instead of south, then be very embarrassed bwaaahahahhahhahhaha

[Matt Pearce]

... and whiskey laden. Keerist. Are you a Mark Lanegan fan too?

[Z]

Hi Matt! Thanks for the kind words :P

Actually...I may have been to blame for the direction mishap! Good thing we didn't end up in Brazil before we headed back up to San Francisco.

The "I just saw something bigger than Jesus" expression on Liz's face = classic!

[matt pearce]

Then the pictures are telling the true story. Rapturous wouldn't be too strong a word to use.

Listened to Alligator and Boxer last night and today. You're right Liz, the band has great depth and their albums really do require listening and more listening. Looking forward to getting into another great band because of you.