The National, The War on Drugs
SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024
PLACE BELL, LAVAL QC
CANADIAN BEATS PASSPORT
The Sad Dad Rock Convention touched down in Laval yesterday, with The National and The War on Drugs‘ double-headline Zen Diagram tour playing at Place Bell!
After an opening set by indie pop-band Lucius, The War On Drugs kicked off their set to An Ocean in Between The Waves in front of an excited audience. Fresh off the release of their 2nd live album, Live Drugs Again, Adam Granduciel and gang truly showed in their set how their songs have evolved and undergone a metamorphosis when played live. The 10-song set was well-crafted and immersive, a perfect way to wrap the first half of the evening!
Shortly after 9pm, “Please Stand By” appeared on the screens, followed by a video of The National casually making their way to the stage. From the opening notes of Once Upon a Poolside, the audience went crazy, happy to see the band at a headline show in town again (their last visit was at OSHEAGA 2023). We’ve caught The National live a few times over the years, but this is a unique band that gets even better every time we see them! While the musicality was absolutely impeccable, punchy and bringing the audience into an energetic trance, the highlight of the night always remains Matt Berninger. The lead singer, who used to be more reserved onstage, has grown into his frontman role so well that he now effortlessly commands the room, regularly jumping on amps and in the crowd to interact with the fans as much as possible. The rocking evening reached its high point with encore tracks Abel, Terrible Love and About Today, leaving everyone to go home thinking about the masterclass they just witnessed, from a band that shows up with an amazing live gig, every single time.
The National and The War on Drugs will be playing Toronto’s Budweiser Stage tonight, and Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on October 2nd. For tickets and more info, visit the band’s website!
The National
The War on Drugs
