Chicago Innerview
Know before the show
Lines Facebook Twitter RSS
  • Shows
  • News
  • Features
  • Calendar
  • About
  • Archives
  • Magazine

Live Review: The National at House of Vans 10/30

Chicago’s House of Vans has only been open for eight months, but it didn’t take long for it to become one of the hottest underground venues in the city. “Secret gigs” and last-minute extravaganzas had already created quite a buzz around this West Loop venue, so when The National announced an intimate free performance ahead of their appearance at the Obama Foundation Summit, the heat turned to smoldering. With a dedicated squadron garnishing the back alleys of the venue in 40-degree temperatures hours before the band’s Monday night set, inside the sprawling lair felt crystalline and somewhat spooky — not unlike the cover of 2007’s Boxer.

When the band took the stage, an overexcited fan exclaimed the words “ROCK ICONS”, to which lead singer Matt Berninger sarcastically replied, “I…concur”. Berninger then dashed the crowd with quite a few politic riffs, including a dedication to the freshly indicted Paul Manafort and “asshole” Donald Trump. The band also managed to punch up a few classics like “Blood Buzz Ohio” and a fevering “Mr. November” as Berninger ran through the crowd and shot up the stairs of the VIP Longue. Richard Perry of Arcade Fire also helped shred through a track alongside them, as The National were set to open for the Canadian legion at the United Center just a few hours later.

It was a truly mesmerizing series of moments seeing a band back from a shortened European tour that did not seem dazed, but rather invigorated and jaunty while playing such a cozy corner of Chicago. The National is a band that seems to not only enjoy their new material, but also how it relates to the older stuff as well. There has always been a calm and a storm to The National, and it is how they relate the two and fuse them into each other that makes them one of the best bands for these tumultuous times in the United States of America. –-BY JIMBY SISTO

  • Recent
  • Most Read
  • LIVE REVIEW: FRANZ FERDINAND AT THE ARAGON 12/10
  • LIVE REVIEW: 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO
  • LIVE REVIEW: NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023
  • LIVE REVIEW: GOOSE AT THE RIVIERA 6/21
  • Lollapalooza Announces 2021 Lineup at Full Capacity
  • Pitchfork Music Festival Announces 2021 Lineup, Move to September
  • Riot Fest Announces 2021 Lineup, 2022 Tickets on Sale
  • Spring Awakening Announces 2021 Lineup
  • Summer Smash Announces 2021 Lineup
  • Ravinia Announces 2021 Festival Lineup
  • Month
  • Day
  • Week
  • Year

More News

  • LIVE REVIEW: FRANZ FERDINAND AT THE ARAGON 12/10

  • LIVE REVIEW: 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO

  • LIVE REVIEW: NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023

  • LIVE REVIEW: GOOSE AT THE RIVIERA 6/21

  • Lollapalooza Announces 2021 Lineup at Full Capacity

  • Pitchfork Music Festival Announces 2021 Lineup, Move to September

  • Riot Fest Announces 2021 Lineup, 2022 Tickets on Sale

  • Spring Awakening Announces 2021 Lineup

  • Summer Smash Announces 2021 Lineup

  • Ravinia Announces 2021 Festival Lineup

  • North Coast Music Festival Announces 2021 Lineup

  • Riot Fest 2020 Postponed, First Wave 2021 Lineup Announced

  • Lollapalooza 2020 Cancelled, Virtual Edition Planned

  • Local Venues Announce Creation of New Save the Rock N Roll Fest 2020

  • Pitchfork Music Festival 2020 Cancelled

  • Ravinia Cancels 2020 Season

  • Spring Awakening Cancels 2020 Festival

  • Chicago Blues Fest, Gospel Fest, House Music Fest Cancelled

  • Chicago Venues Seek Support from Devastating Economic Impact of Covid-19

  • Do Division, West Fest Chicago Cancelled Due to Coronavirus

prevnext

Current Concert Tours | Access Maids – #1 Cleaning Services in Chicago | Chicago Concert Tickets | Mike’s Plumbing Chicago

© INNERVIEW Media, Inc.