On a cool autumn night at the famous Hollywood Bowl, fans gathered for a night of pure, poetically profound artistry, headlined by The National with a rich lineup of guests including Lucius and The War on Drugs that set the stage for an unforgettable experience. This final LA show was a mixture of soulful, groovy and poetic performances, each building anticipation for The National’s headlining set.
The evening kicked off with Lucius, whose soulful and vibrant performance had the crowd swaying to their perfectly blended harmonies. Their energy set a warm tone for the night, leaving the audience feeling engaged and uplifted as they smoothly transitioned from song to song.
Next up was The War on Drugs, who brought a groovy vibe with waves of psychedelic lighting and epic guitar solos. The stage was drenched in wavy colors as strobe lights synced perfectly with each beat, inviting the crowd to dance along with the band. Fans threw their arms up, shaking their hair as they cheered, fully immersed in the band’s hypnotic rhythm. By the end of their set, they earned a standing ovation, leaving the crowd buzzing for The National.
The National consists of Matt Berninger, twins Aaron and Bryce Dessner as well as brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf. When The National finally took the stage, they did so with a funky drum entrance, setting the mood with their opener, “Start a War.” Fog machines and dynamic lighting created a sultry, mysterious ambiance that had the crowd captivated. The band’s poetic lyrics reverberated through the Hollywood Bowl, connecting deeply within the audience as they swayed to the music, seemingly in awe of the emotional weight each song carried throughout the night.
Lead singer Matt Berninger was at his best, mixing profound performance with playful banter. Introducing “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” he quipped, “This is for Halloween,” as the venue turned neon green and a haunting moon appeared on the screens as the fog rolled in, setting the mood even further. Fans relished in the spooky atmosphere. The National demonstrated their quirky personalities, at one point, Berninger jokingly told the audience, “Better to smell good than to sing good,” confessing he had sprayed on too much perfume, much to the crowd’s delight.
The band delivered electrifying moments throughout the night, with “Bloodbuzz Ohio” drawing wild cheers thanks to its thunderous drumming. Berninger also playfully described “Conversation 16” as their creepiest song, which riled up the audience as green, purple and blue lights flooded the venue. The crowd shouted the lyrics back to the band, building to a climactic long applause.
In a nod to LA, the band performed “England,” as blue lights filled the venue, and the audience cheered when they sang the lyric, “I’m in a Los Angeles cathedral.” At one point, Berninger even left the stage and rushed into the crowd, singing manically as fans crowded around him, creating chaos out of pure excitement from the audience and panic from security!
Closing the night with “About Time,” the band put on a powerful final performance, with rainbow lights flooding the venue and creating a sense of unity. In a playful yet meaningful gesture, Berninger handed his mic stand to the audience, allowing fans to pass it around as they cheered and laughed. The stand made its way back to the stage, symbolizing the return of the band’s energy to the fans. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful, soul-stirring night of a wonderful mix of music.
The National Setlist
1. Start A War
2. Eucalyptus
3. Tropic Morning News
4. Afraid Of Everyone
5. Bloodbuzz Ohio
6. The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness
7. I Need My Girl
8. This Is The Last Time
9. Apartment Story
10. Conversation 16
11. Bring On The Dancing Horses (Echo & The Bunnymen cover)
12. Day I Die
13. Rylan (With Lucius)
14. England
15. Graceless
16. Fake Empire
17. Light Years
18. Mr. November
19. Terrible Love
20. About Today
Photo Credit: Kalyn Oyer
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