The National have become one of the biggest bands in alternative music these days, headlining the likes of Madison Square Garden, winning a Grammy, and even working with Taylor Swift. They’ve done it all on the back of amazing albums from 2001’s self-titled debut to most recently last year with both First Two Pages of Frankenstein (QRO review) and Laugh Track (QRO review). They also have amazing live shows, both epic & intimate, emotional & rocking, as exemplified in their new live album, Rome.
Recorded last December in, yes, Rome, at The Historic Cavea at Auditorium Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone (yes, named after the famed film composer), Rome showcases how big & great a live show by The National is. There’s the slow-burn old opener of “Runaway” (from 2010’s High Violet – QRO review), followed by a killer First “Eucalyptus” (which asks the important question, “What about The Afghan Whigs?”). For old school New York fans of the band going back to the aughts, it’s notable how songs released in the years since then have become live staples, such as the run of “Don’t Swallow the Cap”, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”, “The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness”, “I Need My Girl”, and “Lemonworld” – and 2005’s “Lit Up” still rocks. There is a slower period in the middle of the 21-track set with “Alien”, “Humiliation”, and “Murder Me Rachael”, but then comes the epic “England”, “Graceless”, and “Fake Empire” (including the crowd sing-along to “Empire” that has been happening since it came out, back in 2007’s Boxer – QRO review). And of course election staple “Mr. November” is still awesome (despite what happened last November…), and it all ends with the group’s signature acoustic sing-along to “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks”.
While their ticket prices are a bit more expensive than their old aughts-era free NYC shows (QRO ’07 photos), The National live are an experience not to be missed, as shown in Rome.
