TBA
The National
Had a little bit of time on the journey there, so stopped by LACMA and checked out Levitated Mass. Not quite sure what's so artistic about a big rock mounted over a concrete trench dug in the ground, but I suppose that's for others to appreciate! The engineer in me didn't see anything all that amazing about the support system they'd built. :-P
Shrine Auditorium isn't quite the amazing venue I was hoping. It's got history and a typical atmosphere for its era, but so do a lot of other venues in Los Angeles-- and most of those other venues have much better parking! That doesn't diminish its historic beauty, but the Mayan, Palladium, Wilshire Ebell, El Rey, and a few others are its equal in style in many ways.
As far as Mistaken For Strangers, it wasn't exactly a movie about The National while on tour. Instead it was a distinctly amateur autobiographical movie about itself-- literally the story of Tom Berninger as a failure of a roadie on tour with his brother's band. That said, as awful as it is, it's kind of touching in its amateurish way and the last 30 minutes of the movie genuinely shows some direction and development for Tom and the directions he needs to go. The very last scene closes with Tom actually doing a good job as a roadie, showing that he is capable of doing a good job if he just dedicates himself towards it!
The concert after the screening was the usual solid show from The National; a song or two was a bit off, perhaps due to the late start and Matt Berninger (the lead singer) having extra time to get drunk with the said late start, but hearing I Should Live in Salt, Mr. November, Fake Emprie, England, Terrible Love, and of course, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks was awesome. Slow Show and Pink Rabbits were also particularly good, compensating for the fact that Matt was so drunk he couldn't remember All the Wine and they had to skip it. I still can't quite say why Trouble Will Find Me is such a good album, but after hearing it a few times live, it definitely is.
Setlist:
Don't Swallow the Cap
I Should Live in Salt
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Sea of Love
Hard to Find
Afraid of Everyone
Squalor Victoria
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
All the Wine (stopped)
Abel
Slow Show
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
Fake Empire
Encore:
Humiliation
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (acoustic)