The National: New Album (of the year?), Tour

One record I've been playing a lot of this year is The National's new opus, Boxer, the follow-up to the critically and audience lauded Alligator. Filled with a dozen new tunes, it's definitely my nod for Album of the Year. Where "Squalor Victoria" has a catchy piano melody and what I call an unconventional drum beat, "Start A War" sounds like the Sonic Youth of Rather Ripped jamming with their concert band during 7th period in junior high, what with the woodwinds coming in out of nowhere and all. Lots of cool hipsters will be overjoyed to know that Mr. State Songs himself Sufjan Stevens tickling the ivories on the opening song, "Fake Empire."

The band will tour the states in June after the album's release on May 22, but before then they'll play a handful of shows opening for the Arcade Fire. The tour kicks off with a five night sold out residency at the Bowery Ballroom in their home of New York with a revolving door of support. Shapes And Sizes and Talkdemonic will be on the road with the National for the rest.

Tour Dates:

supporting Arcade Fire:
05/01 - Atlanta Civic Center - Atlanta
05/02 - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium - Asheville
05/04 - DAR Constitution Hall - Washington
05/05 - Tower Theater - Philadelphia
05/07 - United Palace Theater - New York
05/08 - United Palace Theater - New York
05/09 - Radio City Music Hall - New York

Bowery Ballroom Residency:
05/28 - with The Broken West
05/29 - with Doveman
05/30 - with My Brightest Diamond
05/31 - with Elysian Fields
06/01 - with The Philistines Jr.

with Shapes And Sizes and Talkdemonic:
06/02 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia*
06/04 - Cabaret Juste Pour Rire - Montreal*
06/05 - Opera House - Toronto*
06/06 - Magic Stick - Detroit
06/07 - Metro - Chicago
06/08 - 400 Bar - Minneapolis
06/09 - High Noon Saloon - Madison
06/11 - Duck Room - St. Louis
06/12 - Headliners - Louisville
06/13 - The Earl - Atlanta
06/14 - Bonnaroo - Manchester
06/15 - 20th Century Music Theater - Cincinnati
06/16 - The Basement - Columbus
06/18 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland
06/19 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh
06/20 - 9:30 Club - Washington
06/21 - Middle East - Boston
06/25 - Casbah - San Diego
06/26 - El Rey Theater - Los Angeles
06/27 - Bimbo's - San Francisco
06/28 - Berbati's Pan - Portland
06/29 - Richards On Richards - Vancouver
06/30 - Nuemos - Seattle
*with Shapes And Sizes only

Download: "Fake Empire" [mp3]