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The National To Play Stealth Brooklyn Gigs

The National has confirmed two stealth shows at Brooklyn, NY’s Bell House. The indie rockers will perform at the intimate venue this coming Thursday and Friday, March 11-12. The group’s new album High Violet was recorded a few blocks away from the Bell House in guitarist Aaron Dessner’s home studio and members of the band played the venue on its opening night. Though the band tested out a few new songs last year, the National will likely debut several cuts off the album at the Bell House.

“Kids find these musical communities to identify with in high school, which is great because that gives them a sense of self—I used to identify myself as being more of a ‘cool artsy kid’ than a jamband kid,” lead singer Matt Berninger told Relix this summer. “But now we’re all in our mid-30s, and we’re starting to really pull from all the things we used to love and [trying] to find new sounds as well—so there could be some Grateful Dead moments on the next record.”

Jazz and folk-influenced avant-songwriter Ethan Lipton will open for the National at the Bell House this Thursday. Berninger sings on Lipton’s forthcoming album. Lipton will also appear at New York’s Joe’s Pub on April 10.

High Violet is scheduled for release on May 11 via 4AD.