so how were The National?

i couldn't make it to either show, unfortunately. Did Matt go into the crowd for "Mr. November"?
Did Thomas from Doveman join them at all?

I think it was Thomas who joined Doveman (I don't know the names of all the guys in the National), and Doveman was pretty good. One of the first times I've seen a rock band use a banjo. The National were really good as well, but I think I preferred their opening set for the Arcade Fire. Alligator is a great record and "Fake Empire" sounded fantastic, but I was content to leave during the encore and not feel like I missed too much.

Frankly, I'm more of a Rosebuds fan, and they are criminally underrated. Maybe it's me, but the National (as much as I like them) are kind of mopey and look like they're all hanging together by a thread. Even when the Rosebuds are doing a sad song like "Blue Bird", they still sound so damn happy. Not only that, but they have more charisma and variety in their songs. I would have loved to see them play for more than 35 minutes, but I'm just happy I finally got to see them. They're a great band, easily one of my favorites these days.

I didn't see them, but I predict people would like them more live if they jumped up and down and "had more energy".

I saw them a few months ago when they came, they really bored me. At some points they were really good, at other times I really wanted to leave.

On top of that there was no railing and we were right in front of the guitarist and I think he was trying to piss me off because he kept playing his damn guitar in my face.

Doveman is just a guy, not a band. The Dessners and the drummer from the National played with him, and some dude on banjo. Thank heaven, too, because he puts me to sleep when it's just him, the wurlitzer and his lispy, breathy singing. He came out and played accordion with the National on one song.

The National were good both nights, but Matt's been sick, and he missed a few lyrics both nights and coughed after some songs, like Abel. I preferred the set on Wednesday - it was slightly longer and I liked the way it flowed. But the energy both from the audience and the band was better on the second night, and they played a NEW SONG :) yay.

duh. double post

That "energy" thing Rhett is talking about translates something different to me: it means that the band are engaging, that they are enjoying the music they play, or that they are trying to be a little spirited in their presentation. A band doesn't have to jump up and down a lot in order to be good. Hell, I saw the Red House Painters once and Gorden Mack was sitting in a chair while he was playing along with Mark Kozelek, but they still managed to knock everyone's socks off because they were so into their music. I just find that sometimes a certain band needs a little more connection with the people they're playing to. Instead they think they can just play a song, stare at the floor or ceiling, and people will fall all over themselves for it. Oasis being a good example.

I thought they were pretty good although I'm not all that familiar with most of their material. I think I would've enjoyed it more if I was. The Rosebuds were pretty awesome though.