The Key » The National http://thekey.xpn.org Discover Philly's Best Local Music Tue, 21 May 2013 21:07:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Copyright WXPN, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Watch The National perform “Sea Of Love” (playing The Mann on Friday, June 7) http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/20/watch-the-national-perform-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-on-friday-june-7/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/20/watch-the-national-perform-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-on-friday-june-7/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 18:39:29 +0000 Bruce Warren http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=80073
Photo by Dierdre O'Callaghan

Photo by Dierdre O’Callaghan

The National release their new album, Trouble Will Find Me, tomorrow. This week, the album is WXPN’s Featured Album of the Week. XPN’s Mike Vasilikos writes:

On their sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me (4AD), the Brooklyn-based band further embrace their ominous personality that seeks to find beauty though sorrow and darkness. The band saw new heights of success following the release of their last album, High Violet, both in terms of record sales and press, and also an ever-growing fan base. With the bar set a little higher this time around, The National are seemingly undaunted of new expectations and utterly focused on harnessing their music persona. It’s clear that on Trouble Will Find Me The National are comfortable and confident in their pursuits. Brothers Bryce & Aaron Dessner whom compose most of the music for the band offer some ambitious, unconventional music timestamps on songs like “Demons” and “Humiliation.” There are songs that simmer into powerfully moving moments like “This is the Last Time” and “Firefly.” And of course, there are points on the album where the band purely flexes their collective muscle and offers anthemic moments like on “Sea of Love,” which offers us the album’s title, and “Graceless.”

Tomorrow, the band is on World Cafe with David Dye. Below, watch a performance of “Sea of Love.” The band performs at The Mann on Friday, June 7.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/20/watch-the-national-perform-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-on-friday-june-7/feed/ 0 The Week So Far: 11 must-read stories on The Key (incl. Sleepy Hollow, The National, Peter Murphy) http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-week-so-far-11-must-read-stories-on-the-key-incl-sleepy-hollow-the-national-peter-murphy/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-week-so-far-11-must-read-stories-on-the-key-incl-sleepy-hollow-the-national-peter-murphy/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:34 +0000 Julie Miller http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=78733 market east

Market East shared a new song called “To Walk With You” ahead of the release of Children of Summer, out May 27th [link]

The 52nd annual Philadelphia Folk Festival line-up is jam packed with sets by Richard Thompson, Toy Soldiers, Black Prairie and more [link]

Alo Brasil brought tropical sounds and rhythms to their Key Studio Session earlier this week [link]

The National debuted the first video for their upcoming LP with the song “Sea of Love” [link]

XPN’s Gotta Hear Song of the Week featured San Francisco’s John Murry and his deeply personal song “Southern Sky” [link]

Get ready for tonight’s Peter Murphy show at The Trocadero with a video-playlist of five songs we hope he plays [link]

The Swollen Fox and WXPN have announced a show with The Districts, Goodnight, Texas and Satellite Hearts on 7/19 [link]

Sunday morning marked Keith Brand’s final Sleepy Hollow show on XPN; listen back to the full broadcast [link] and check out the song he chose to close out his 27-year run [link]

In a special Folkadelphia Session, we meet Nadia Sirota and Valgeir Sigurdsson and a mix of reinterpretations and original material [link]

Download a 44-track mixtape from 100 Years of Solid Dudes featuring samples of Elvis Costello, Bowie and more [link]

Get a glimpse inside The Breeders‘ Sunday night show at The Trocadero with a photo recap and set list [link]

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-week-so-far-11-must-read-stories-on-the-key-incl-sleepy-hollow-the-national-peter-murphy/feed/ 0 The National share a new video for “Sea of Love” (playing The Mann Center on 6/7) http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-national-share-a-new-video-for-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-national-share-a-new-video-for-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 16:37:20 +0000 Julie Miller http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=78711 the national

With the release of Trouble Will Find Me just a couple of weeks out, The National have shared the album’s first video with “Sea of Love.”  Staged in what looks like an empty laundry room and occurring in one continuous shot, the band rocks out with the help of an air-guitaring kid before politely bowing and making their exit.  Trouble Will Find Me is set for release on May 21st, and the Brooklyn band will join Dirty Projectors at The Mann Center on June 7th.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Watch the video for “Sea of Love” below. The band says on its Facebook page that the video is a loving homage to their favorite punk rock video. Can you guess which one?

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/05/08/the-national-share-a-new-video-for-sea-of-love-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/feed/ 0 Watch The National debut two new songs on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (playing The Mann Center with Dirty Projectors on June 7) http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/26/watch-the-national-debut-two-new-songs-on-late-night-on-jimmy-fallon-playing-the-mann-center-with-dirty-projectors-on-june-7/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/26/watch-the-national-debut-two-new-songs-on-late-night-on-jimmy-fallon-playing-the-mann-center-with-dirty-projectors-on-june-7/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:39:28 +0000 Bruce Warren http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=77460 national The National debuted two new songs on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon that you can watch below. The band releases its new album, Trouble Will Find Me, on May 21st. The band plays The Mann Center with Dirty Projectors on Friday, June 7th. Go here for tickets. Below, watch “I Need My Girl,” and “Sea Of Love.”

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/26/watch-the-national-debut-two-new-songs-on-late-night-on-jimmy-fallon-playing-the-mann-center-with-dirty-projectors-on-june-7/feed/ 0 Listen to “Demons,” a new track from The National (playing The Mann Center on 6/7) http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/08/listen-to-demons-a-new-track-from-the-national-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/08/listen-to-demons-a-new-track-from-the-national-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:04:08 +0000 Julie Miller http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=75291 NtlThe National have unveiled the first single from their new album Trouble Will Find Me, out on May 21st through 4AD.  “Demons” is dark, full-bodied and complex in sound and production, featuring frontman Matt Berninger’s understated and gruff vocals singing lyrics about not being able to let go of the past and being afraid of the future.  Trouble Will Find Me follows the Brooklyn indie rock band’s 2010 album High Violet.  Listen to a stream of “Demons” below (paired with a video of Azar Kazimer creating a chalk drawing of Trouble’s album art) and watch live footage of several more new songs via Consequence of Sound here.  Tickets and information for The National’s June 7th show at The Mann Center with Dirty Projectors can be found here.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/04/08/listen-to-demons-a-new-track-from-the-national-playing-the-mann-center-on-67/feed/ 0 Just Announced: The National and Dirty Projectors coming to The Mann on 6/7 http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/02/25/just-announced-the-national-and-dirty-projectors-coming-to-the-mann-on-67/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/02/25/just-announced-the-national-and-dirty-projectors-coming-to-the-mann-on-67/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:00:55 +0000 Julie Miller http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=70360 NationalBrooklyn-via-Cincinnati indie rockers The National will be stopping by The Mann Center on Friday, June 7th.  The Non-COMM alums released their much-loved fifth studio album High Violet in 2010 and are still going strong with tours supporting the anthemic record.  They will be joined by Dirty Projectors, the experimental rock project of David Longstreth.  The Brooklyn outfit released Swing Lo Magellan last summer followed by an appearance at Made In America in Philadelphia (watch a video of them performing “Offspring are Blank” from the festival here).  Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m.  More information will be available at the XPN Concert Calendar.  Listen back to The National’s 2010 Non-COMM set here and watch their video for “Bloodbuzz Ohio” below.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2013/02/25/just-announced-the-national-and-dirty-projectors-coming-to-the-mann-on-67/feed/ 0 Photo Recap: The National + Yo La Tengo and Wye Oak at the Academy Of Music http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/08/photo-recap-the-national-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/08/photo-recap-the-national-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:00:50 +0000 The Key http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=18765 1 Wye Oak Wye Oak Wye Oak Wye Oak Wye Oak Wye Oak Wye Oak Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National The National

For more photos by Eric Ashleigh, visit eashleigh.com.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/08/photo-recap-the-national-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/feed/ 0 Watch the new video for “Holy Holy” by Wye Oak (opening for The National tonight and tomorrow at the Academy Of Music) http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/watch-the-new-video-for-holy-holy-by-wye-oak-opening-for-the-national-tonight-and-tomorrow-at-the-academy-of-music/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/watch-the-new-video-for-holy-holy-by-wye-oak-opening-for-the-national-tonight-and-tomorrow-at-the-academy-of-music/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:46:24 +0000 Kiley Bense http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=18715 As we mentioned earlier today, Wye Oak will open for The National and Yo La Tengo at the Academy Of Music tonight and tomorrow night. Below, you can watch the new video for the Baltimore-based duo’s song “Holy Holy,” a sun-soaked, dreamy clip shot in Coney Island that follows the two as they ride roller coasters and swings against a washed out sky. “Holy Holy” is from the band’s latest album Civilian, which came out this spring. Wye Oak performs with The National and Yo La Tengo at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7th, and Thurday, September 8th, at the Academy Of Music; tickets to the all-ages shows are $39.50.

Wye Oak – Holy Holy from Merge Records on Vimeo.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/watch-the-new-video-for-holy-holy-by-wye-oak-opening-for-the-national-tonight-and-tomorrow-at-the-academy-of-music/feed/ 0 Tonight’s Concert Pick: The National + Yo La Tengo, Wye Oak at the Academy Of Music http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/tonights-concert-pick-the-national-yo-la-tengo-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/tonights-concert-pick-the-national-yo-la-tengo-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:30:08 +0000 Kiley Bense http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=18643 The National has been around for more than a decade—a lifetime by indie buzzband standards—but it continues to put out solid records. The Brooklyn-based quintet’s latest, 2010′s High Violet, proves that the band is still relevant, and at the top of its game. The album features collaborations with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Sufjan Stevens; it’s a more polished, lavish rendition of The National’s particular brand of alt rock. Philadelphia is in for a special stop on the band’s fall tour: It will perform not one but two shows, both of which are with Yo La Tengo and Wye Oak. The National performs with Yo La Tengo and Wye Oak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7th, and Thurday, September 8th, at the Academy Of Music; tickets to the all-ages shows are $39.50.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/07/tonights-concert-pick-the-national-yo-la-tengo-wye-oak-at-the-academy-of-music/feed/ 0 The National playing two nights at the Academy of Music in September with openers Yo La Tengo and Wye Oak http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/06/07/the-national-playing-two-nights-at-the-academy-of-music-in-september-with-openers-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/06/07/the-national-playing-two-nights-at-the-academy-of-music-in-september-with-openers-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:54:50 +0000 Bruce Warren http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=12970 The National are performing two nights at the Academy of Music, September 7th and 8th. Opening are Yo La Tengo and Wye Oak. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 10th at 10AM. Click here for ticket information.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/06/07/the-national-playing-two-nights-at-the-academy-of-music-in-september-with-openers-yo-la-tengo-and-wye-oak/feed/ 0 Listen to a new song by Booker T. with The Roots, Sharon Jones, and The National’s Matt Berninger http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/03/30/listen-to-a-new-song-by-booker-t-with-the-roots-sharon-jones-and-the-nationals-matt-berninger/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/03/30/listen-to-a-new-song-by-booker-t-with-the-roots-sharon-jones-and-the-nationals-matt-berninger/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:22:27 +0000 Bruce Warren http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=9722 The Road From Memphis is the new album from the legendary Booker T. (of Booker T. And The MGs). It’s being released on May 10th on Anti Records and was produced by Jones with Questlove of The Roots and Rob Schnapf. The album was recorded by Daptone Records’ Gabriel Roth with backing by The Roots and guest vocals from Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Lou Reed, and a special appearance by Detroit’s legendary guitarist Dennis Coffey. The song below—”Representing Memphis”—features Matt Berninger of the National and Sharon Jones on vocals.

“Representing Memphis”

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