Photo: Emma Viola Lilja
"It's a massive honour to do this kind of show for you guys," smiles a humbled Matt Berninger, adjusting his glasses as he sips at his white wine. "London has been our second home."
Upon each visit, they need a bigger venue to house them and their adoring disciples - hopping from The Roundhouse to Brixton Academy to Alexandra Palace to here. It's been a pleasure to watch The National play the long game - and win it. Tonight, the last show of their huge Trouble Will Find Me world tour, is their crowning moment. Not bad, considering it all started in Buffalo Bar.
"It was 12 or maybe 13 years ago that we first played in London. This is where Roger Trust first signed us," Berninger tells the crowd, honouring the city where the band found their first big break at 4AD after a set at the Buffalo Bar. "We're surprised we're here."
From the opening burst of 'Don't Swallow The Cap' however, they belong here more than anywhere else.
Through 'Bloodbuzz Ohio', 'Sea Of Love' and 'Hard To Find', everyday tales of romance, failure and humiliation, their richly-textured flourishes are given the room they truly need to flourish on this stage. With a rammed and active crowd in full body and voice, not to mention old friends Nico Muhly and Sufjan Stevens in tow, the two hour career-spanning set runs like a celebration of their past, present and future.
"It's my brother Tom's birthday today," laughs Berninger, speaking of the absent director and true star of their incredible movie Mistaken For Strangers. "He doesn't like our slow songs, so this is for him," he adds, introducing a blistering outing of 'Abel'. He then addresses his missing family member: "Now move out of my garage."
It's that heartwarming openness that makes this band, and tonight's spine-tingling moments like 'About Today' and 'Fake Empire' feel so special. There's a humanity that envelopes all that The National do - there's so much to cling to. This becomes quite literal when Berninger charges through the crowd for 'Terrible Love' - scaling every corner of the main arena and running straight into our arms (this reviewer isn't ashamed to admit they went in for a hug).
Turning off the amps for an unforgettable unplugged ending of 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks', 20,000 people sway arm in arm and howl back. That's the beauty of The National - to us, they feel like home.
The National played:
Don't Swallow the Cap
I Should Live in Salt
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Sea of Love
Demons
Hard to Find
Afraid of Everyone
Conversation 16
Squalor Victoria
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
Guest Room
All the Wine
Abel
Slow Show
Sorrow
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
About Today (with Nico Muhly)
Fake Empire
Encore:
Ada (with 'Chicago' by Sufjan Stevens outro)
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
