THE NATIONAL STOMP THROUGH THE POURING RAIN AT 2ND NIGHT IN PROSPECT PARK

What could possibly be better than the National and Courtney Barnett performing a benefit concert as part of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell? How about a second night? With $1 from every ticket sold going to organizations protecting woman’s reproductive rights and each person receiving a digital download of the National’s latest album I Am Easy to Find, the event was once again packed, with many fans attending for the second straight night!!

Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett kicked things off in fine fashion with “Avant Gardener.” Feeling right at home since she also played here last year, she ran through a nice set of almost a dozen songs. Bouncing around the stage, jamming on her guitar, she showed why she has become such a local favorite.

Courtney Barnett

Courtney Barnett merch

When the National hit the stage, they were met with some immediate bad luck as the vocals could not be heard. With the whole crowd yelling, the issue was finally resolved during the second song. The band started the show with four straight songs from I Am Easy to Find and performed most of the songs from the record. About halfway through the show, the rain started to pour but that didn’t deter the crowd, although some moved under any available tents. To everyone’s amazement, Matt Berninger came off the stage and joined the crowd in the rain, cementing his standing with his adoring fans. Definitely go check out the new record as well as the corresponding short film.