The National and Courtney Barnett Celebrate Brooklyn! Once More

Courtney Barnett Rocks The House/photo by Kyra Kverno

The National last appeared at the Prospect Park Bandshell back on July 27, 2010, while Courtney Barnett played there on July 25, 2018. Both of these top-notch musical artists, from different corners of the world, played at the Bandshell again on two consecutive nights, June 12 and 13, 2019.

Courtney Barnett – Guitar In Hand/ photo by Kyra Kverno

Courtney Barnett and her two bandmates, bassist Bones Sloane and drummer Dave Mudie, opened the second night’s festivities with “Avant Gardner” (from her double EP, A Sea of Split Peas) and Ms. Barnett’s hands didn’t seem shaky at all. She wowed the crowd with an assortment of guitar licks that continued during her entire 10-song, hour-long set. Other highlights from her original rocking repertoire included “City Looks Pretty,” “Need A Little Time,” “Depreston” and “Everybody Here Hates You,” from her newest studio album, Tell Me How You Really Feel. At times during her set, Barnett’s sound brought echoes of The Ramones and Patti Smith, which only served to bring to light this burgeoning artist’s musical talents.

Matt Berninger Leans Toward The Crowd /photo by Kyra Kverno

When The National took the Bandshell stage on night two, the already charged-up concert goers were treated to a 23-song set that began with a technical glitch. The vocal microphones weren’t working when lead vocalist Matt Berninger began with “You Had Your Soul With You,” but he never missed a beat. Berninger, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, along with Bryan and Scott Devendorf, moved seamlessly though a generous helping of tracks from their newest album, I Am Easy to Find. During “Oblivions,” “Lightyears” and the title track, audience members seemed entranced by the lilting melodies. The special effects only added to the mesmerizing concert experience on what turned out to be a misty and rainy night in the park. Their song selection was crafted to not only showcase their newest work, but also featured “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and “Terrible Love” from High Violet, as well as “I Should Live In Salt,” “Sea of Love” and “Pink Rabbits” from Trouble Will Find Me.

These performances were not only remarkable for the music, but also for the cultural enrichment both acts brought to an appreciative audience in a near-perfect setting in Brooklyn.