Just Announced: The National at Pabst Theater

The indie band stops by Milwaukee July 17

by Steven Hyden
Decider Milwaukee

Of all the bands that have gained a measure of fame in the indie rock world this decade, The National seems like the most unlikely, if only because the Brooklyn band makes music that’s subdued, inward-looking, and not immediately striking. But 2007’s Boxer, like Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible and Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, is one of the indie scene’s great consensus records of recent years, with an appeal that goes beyond the band’s initial cult of listeners. Beautifully muted and understated, Boxer drew its intensity from a slow burn, which seems true for The National in general.

With great success comes the potential for backlash, and last year’s arty band documentary A Skin, A Night gave detractors reason to call The National out for pretension. But the biggest challenge this band faces is following up an album as beloved as Boxer; The National reportedly is heading into the studio next month to do just that, with a release date set for late 2009 or early 2010. Before then, the band will perform July 17 at the Pabst Theater, according to its website.

Find tickets >