The National @ ABC, 2 Nov

"You have to do it running, but you do everything that they ask you to," Matt Berninger rasps, his voice brawling for airspace against a surge of howling gothic guitars and militaristic drums. It's a powerful snapshot and, as a sold out ABC nods its head in unison, there's little doubt that the introspective rambling of the National's frontman finds resonance with this audience of predominantly over-25s enjoying a Friday night respite from the working week. Squalor Victoria is all fallen elegance framed by strings and Berninger's knockout chorus lines, while rockier efforts like Abel call for his baritone to turn to a roar and the subtler Green Gloves proves no less effective. But it's the piano-led coda of Slow Show and the accompanying couplet from Berninger that proves to be the gig's most glorious moment; uncomplicated in its delivery but heart-wrenching by nature, it's the National's appeal in a nutshell. [Dave Kerr]