Matt climbs onto the side barriers during Mr. November @ Glastonbury 2010

Matt climbs onto the side barriers during Mr. November @ Glastonbury 2010

Padma Newsom, the unofficial sixth “National” @ Glastonbury 2010

Padma Newsom, the unofficial sixth “National” @ Glastonbury 2010

The National @ Glastonbury 2010

The National @ Glastonbury 2010

Matt Berninger of The National @ Glastonbury 2010 The one band I “had to see” at Glastonbury was The National; they are above and beyond one of my favourite bands (if you need the unreliable stats, they are far and away my most listened to band on last.fm*) and the last time I saw them (2008 in Sydney’s City Recital Hall) left me in such a euphoric mood that I doubt I’d be chasing live shows the way I do now if not for it. They didn’t disappoint, I can gladly say: every piece of their complex musical puzzle came together perfectly, with Matt up front not only singing about his unease, but physically representing it. He taps himself constantly and paces the stage without a sense of certainty. It’s during the louder moments, where he blows up his tension like a pufferfish, where we see another side to the show. He jumps into the crowd, climbs on amps and has tug-o-war matches with his roadies during songs like Mr. November, Squalor Victoria and Abel. While the quiter moments of The National’s repotoire are presented gracefully, it’s only then where the full emotional spectrum of the show is delivered. I guess my one negative is that I have finally come to the conclusion that for myself The National are to be enjoyed live just as they are to be enjoyed on record; in solitude. And I don’t mean the crowd - they were amazing - I mean the other bands. Coming away from the show I quickly traded their sounds for that of Shakira (more on that later) and when looking back on the show I see not their performance as a complete work but as a piece in the Glastonbury mosaic, one that both fits perfectly and doesn’t belong. Maybe this is my way of saying they’re not a festival band even though they delivered an excellent performance. Or I’m confused as to what to expect from them these days.

Matt Berninger of The National @ Glastonbury 2010

The one band I “had to see” at Glastonbury was The National; they are above and beyond one of my favourite bands (if you need the unreliable stats, they are far and away my most listened to band on last.fm*) and the last time I saw them (2008 in Sydney’s City Recital Hall) left me in such a euphoric mood that I doubt I’d be chasing live shows the way I do now if not for it.

They didn’t disappoint, I can gladly say: every piece of their complex musical puzzle came together perfectly, with Matt up front not only singing about his unease, but physically representing it. He taps himself constantly and paces the stage without a sense of certainty.

It’s during the louder moments, where he blows up his tension like a pufferfish, where we see another side to the show. He jumps into the crowd, climbs on amps and has tug-o-war matches with his roadies during songs like Mr. November, Squalor Victoria and Abel. While the quiter moments of The National’s repotoire are presented gracefully, it’s only then where the full emotional spectrum of the show is delivered.

I guess my one negative is that I have finally come to the conclusion that for myself The National are to be enjoyed live just as they are to be enjoyed on record; in solitude. And I don’t mean the crowd - they were amazing - I mean the other bands. Coming away from the show I quickly traded their sounds for that of Shakira (more on that later) and when looking back on the show I see not their performance as a complete work but as a piece in the Glastonbury mosaic, one that both fits perfectly and doesn’t belong.

Maybe this is my way of saying they’re not a festival band even though they delivered an excellent performance. Or I’m confused as to what to expect from them these days.

Kate Nash @ Glastonbury 2010 And the award for most improved since I last saw them goes to this sneaker-and-poncho wearing person!

Kate Nash @ Glastonbury 2010

And the award for most improved since I last saw them goes to this sneaker-and-poncho wearing person!

Glastonbury: Before and After via

Glastonbury: Before and After

via

Gorillaz @ Glastonbury 2010

Gorillaz @ Glastonbury 2010

Broken Bells @ Glastonbury 2010 Easily one of my highlights of the weekend, they had the tough job of playing after Thom Yorke/Radiohead and still slayed.

Broken Bells @ Glastonbury 2010

Easily one of my highlights of the weekend, they had the tough job of playing after Thom Yorke/Radiohead and still slayed.

Thom Yorke’s setlist from his “secret” performance @ Glastonbury 2010

Thom Yorke’s setlist from his “secret” performance @ Glastonbury 2010

Jonny Greenwood @ Glastonbury 2010 ETA: Thanks thefilmwatcher for picking up the minor name mistake.

Jonny Greenwood @ Glastonbury 2010

ETA: Thanks thefilmwatcher for picking up the minor name mistake.