Artist : The National

Shows

Notes

The National are a Brooklyn-based five-piece hailing from Ohio. The group contains two pairs of brothers -- Bryce Dessner (guitars), Aaron Dessner (bass, guitars), Scott Devendorf (bass, guitars), and Bryan Devendorf (drums) -- and features Matt Berninger on vocals. Padma Newsome, from labelmates Clogs, plays live with the band. Starting with his work on Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, Newsome has also become an increasingly integral part of the group, guesting on viola and violin, and working on the band's arrangements.

The National's music has drawn comparisons to Interpol, the Smiths, Tindersticks, and Tom Waits -- the latter due to Berninger's shattered, beautiful earthquake of a voice, which recalls the holy trinity of Cave, Cash and Cohen. However, though concerned with the forensics of heartbreak specifically and the human condition generally, the band are no mere copycats.

In the past few years, The National signed to the considerably larger British label, Beggars Banquet, releasing two critically acclaimed albums -- Alligator (2005) and Boxer (2007) -- and touring relentlessly, mostly throughout Europe and the US, though also in such far reaching locales as Australia, Turkey, and Moscow. They've grown in popularity to become one of the most beloved and well-known bands on the independent music circuit.

Regardless, The National retain strong ties with Brassland, a label founded, in part, to release the band's music. For example, The National's members have contributed to albums by sister group, Clogs; helped to develop relationships with a next generation of artists, such as Doveman (who was a key collaborator on Boxer); and frequently take bands from the Brassland roster on tour.