Caught Live: The National, London

November 30th, 2002: The Notting Hill Arts Club is filled with the usual music loving, workshy folk who seemingly always have the good fortune to attend such late afternoon musical showcases, albeit in typically shoddy surroundings. We’re all here in the hopes of catching that Holy Grail of the musical world – ‘The Next Big Thing- and today that unknown diamond in the rough is supposed to be The National. Passionate, awkward and completely intriguing, they have the makings of a cult band ready to break the hearts of everyone who falls for them and there is not a hint that the trappings of mainstream success and worldwide fame await them. No pop hooks, no frills: just solid and interesting songs. This writer is impressed but doesn’t exactly see grander things ahead of the band.

So whatever did happen to the then little-known band from Cincinnati, OH? Well, they went on to release three front-to-back sublime and the subtle studio albums that saw them become the little discovery you told all your friends about. And whilst the already converted carried on preaching, the band kept their wheels on the road and did what all good bands hope to do, become the greatest live band they can be. Eight years after their first UK show, The National - gearing up their biggest headlining show to date at the Royal Albert Hall in London – are tonight easing themselves into a year’s heavy touring with a “secret” warm-up show at Camden’s not-exactly-tiny Electric Ballroom. Billed as a fan-club only show, the door policy is so strict that even those with legitimate tickets are having a headache trying to get in.

From the moment the band take the stage, confidence is running high as they work through the entirety of their new album High Violet. Easing into the evening with two new songs, ‘Everyone’s Ghost’ and ‘Afraid Of Everyone’, the majority of those lucky enough to be packed into the Ballroom have clearly taken advantage of the bands official online stream of the album as almost every word is sung back at frontman Matt Berninger as if he’s been belting them out for years. Although the man is a little short on words between songs, when he does engage the crowd he has them in the palm of his hand. Introducing ‘Sorrow’, he explains why he tends to veer into the world of the depressive when scribbling down his lyrics. “Well I think songs about shit that is down, makes you feel up”, he says and the reception the band get tonight suggests he’s right.

Bringing the evening towards its end with live staple ‘Mr. November’, Berninger wishes everyone the best of luck with the upcoming election before doing his level best to change any and all perceptions anyone may have of the typically composed frontman. Throwing himself into the sea of adoring people in front of him, he clamours to the middle of the Electric Ballroom’s floor without missing a single word to give what is one of the most passionate performances this writer’s ever seen. And even though Ragged Words has witnessed him do this many times before with The National, It’s never felt so important. Seamlessly moving into ‘Terrible Love’, Berninger tries his level best to return to the stage before giving up as the song swells and builds in rhythm with the crowd clamouring around him. Every word heard, felt and repeated by all in attendance. It’s one of those moments. There really aren’t that many bands as good as the lot that shuffled into the Notting Hill Arts Club all those years ago.