The National Close Out Musicfest NW With Jokes and Glow Sticks

Posted on Sep 13th 2010 10:30AM by Garin Pirnia
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Simone Joyner, Getty Images

On Sunday night, after five days of indie music, the National headlined the closing night of Musicfest NW at outdoor venue Pioneer Square in Portland, Ore. People came out in droves to hear songs from the band's latest critical endeavor, 'High Violet,' making their the show the most anticipated of the fest.

As dusk unfurled, the band opened with new songs 'Runaway' and 'Anybody's Ghost.' "This is unbelievably pleasant," lead singer Matt Berninger told the packed audience. "What's that building? It looks like a cake," he said, pointing to the Jackson Tower that was covered in tiered lights. For a band that writes such heavy material, Berninger and the Dessner twins intercut the seriousness with comical banter and played off each other. After performing the brash 'Mistaken for Strangers,' Berninger cracked, "That's our Citibank endorsement. We got paid $100," referencing how he used the word in the lyrics.

"This is for Karen and Mark -- Happy Anniversary," he said before launching into 'Bloodbuzz Ohio.' As the rest of the band railed on their instruments, Berninger manically paced back and forth onstage as if he was unhinged. More new songs followed, including 'England,' 'Conversation 16,' 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' and 'Afraid of Everyone.' Berninger exercised his throat muscles on 'Squalor Victoria,' 'Abel' and 'Mr. November,' saying "It's still for Obama" of the latter song.

The band took a moment to thank the crew by name, but Berninger joked he didn't know their real names but only knew them by numbers. "This one is for number seven," he said, then played 'Daughters of the Soho Riots.' After ending on the horn-fueled 'Fake Empire,' the band came back for a four-song encore. They handed out only a few glow sticks to the people in front, joking they only had $4 worth of stuff and that it was their version of a Flaming Lips show. They further explained one of the sticks was filled with crystal meth, so fans should hold onto them. Berninger then dedicated penultimate song 'Secret Meeting' to their college roommates and the band ended their 90-minute set and MFNW 2010 on the dramatic 'Terrible Love.'

Watch the National perform 'Fake Empire' at Musicfest NW.