The National Perform at a Pop-Up Bar with a Pirate Stripper in New Video for “I’ll Still Destroy You”

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Indie Rock band, The National, has just released new video for their song, “I’ll Still Destroy You.” The song is from their ninth studio album, Sleep Well Beast, which was released September 8th. The album is the Cincinnati band’s follow up to their grammy nominated album, Trouble Will Find Me. 

Much like the rest of the album, “I’ll Still Destroy You,” is mellow and moody, with a slow tempo and lower register vocals from frontman, Matt Berninger. Unlike the song, the video is much more zany and colorful. The video was directed by Allan Sigurosson and Ragnar Kjartansson. Kjartansson, an Icelandic performance artist, has collaborated with the group int he past. In the video, Kjartansoon also stars as sailor themed stripper. He waves tassels around with abandon and sports bright gold underwear, a sailor cap and a pipe. He certainly isn’t your average Popeye. The band stoically performs at a dive bar while confetti and champagne rain down around them.


The video was shot in Copenhagen at a pop up bar, during Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s HAVEN festival. The pop bar, Dope & Corruption, was created by Kjartansson specifically for the video. After filming the video in under an hour, Danish security shut down the playful establishment.

Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna

Tori Adams: Born and raised in Burbank, California, Tori has always had a passion for entertainment. Tori graduated in 2017 from UCLA with a BA in History, and a double minor in Music History and Film. While at UCLA Tori realized she could combine the writing skills she had acquired as a History major, with her passion for pop culture (which had intensified while studying music and film), into a viable career as an entertainment journalist. At mxdwn.com, Tori covers breaking news in the music industry. In addition to her work at mxdwn.com, Tori works for Artemis Motion Pictures and Millennium Films.
Related Post
Leave a Comment