With rising costs everywhere we are now seeing quite a few great international acts teaming up for Australian tours. I presume to save costs. But what a bonus for us. Friday night was a huge double bonus for those lucky to be present at the Aware Super Theatre with The National playing supported by the incredible talents of Fleet Foxes. What a night it was. The National were set to tour here in early 2020 but the tour was cancelled because of that pesky pandemic. They have been regular visitors over the years so it was great to welcome them again. They truly are an incredible live act. They entralled us for nearly two and a half hours. Last year they surprisingly released two albums. Both were good but not really truly great. Obviously they played a good selection from those two and they actually presented well live. Especially 'Eucalyptus', 'Tropic Morning News' and an epic 'Smoke Detector'. Although they did clump them together and that perhaps slowed momentum slightly. There were also some older tracks they played that I was surprised by, such as 'Lit Up'. Especially as they didn't play live favourite 'Conversation 16'. But mere quibbles as it was still a spectacular show. 'Don't Swallow the Cap' was an early highlight. This song was also the first of three times that leadman Matt Berninger well fully into the crowd. He seems to really enjoy it and sets the crowd alight. Of course the band were great in support. The Dessners are remarkable guitarists. The night climaxed with a thunderous encore. 'Terrible Love' and 'About Today' are just modern day classics and an unplugged 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' is always special. The National. A great band, always welcome anytime in Australia.

Set List
Once Upon a Poolside
Eucalyptus
Tropic Morning News
New Order T-Shirt
I Should Live in Salt
Don't Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
I Need My Girl
Mistaken For Strangers
Humiliation
Murder Me Rachael
Lit Up
Alien
Grease In Your Hair
Laugh Track
Smoke Detector
Day I Die
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
Fake Empire
Space Invader

Light Years

Mr November

Terrible Love

About Today

Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

Fleet Foxes are truly one of the greatest bands on the planet. That's a pretty great support act in itself. I was very excited to see them and they were expectedly great. Last here in 2017 they gave us an hour of the 'hits'. It was just a beautiful set of six part harmonies led by the impossibly pure voice of Robin Pecknold. They gave us a good cross section of favourites, even delving way back to their debut EP in 'Sun Giant'. So many wonderful songs played such as 'Montezuma', 'Ragged Wood', 'Your Protector' and many more. Then closing with the classic in 'Helplessness Blues' was a major treat from a major band indeed.

Set List

Sun Giant

Sunblind

Can I Believe You

Ragged Wood

He Doesn't Know Why

Your Protector

Third of May/Odaigahara

Blue Ridge Mountains

White Winter Hymnal

Phoenix

A Long Way Past the Past

Featherweight

Mykonos

Grown Ocean

Montezuma

Helplessness Blues