Last Tuesday and Wednesday The National brought their stellar show in support of their recently dropped ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, to The Met Philly. The Tuesday show included “Tropic Morning News,” from the new album, in addition to fan favorites from across their massive discography like “Pink Rabbits” from Trouble Will Find Me and “Mr. November” from Alligator. Tuesday was the first night of the second leg for The National’s 2023 US tour, so to make it feel extra special, the band ended night one with an a cappella version of “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.”
However, equally impressive were New Zealand power-poppers The Beths, who opened each night, and are proving to be possibly the biggest international act to ever have played Everybody Hits. The Carpark quartet are currently touring behind their third LP, Expert in a Dying Field, whose US headlining run they brought to a sold-out Union Transfer this March. And although the opera house wasn’t quite packed for their 7:30pm performances, and their sets were a little abbreviated (playing 10, instead of 18, songs), they seemed to make fans of many of those who showed up early with “Silence Is Golden” and the album’s title track, along with a handful of their most anthemic numbers from their first two LPs.
Check out pictures from the first night below. Photo credit: Kate Atkinson
The Beths
The National