Here’s what The National is reading on their tour bus: Aaron Dessner is on Marcel Proust’s “Swann’s Way.” His twin brother Bryce is reading a book on Austerlitz, and Bryan Devendorf is reading “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy.
At least, that’s what he said over the phone; maybe bands carry around heavy tomes while touring to impress journalists. We did talk a little bit about the band’s relationship with Vincent Moon, whose real name is Mathieu Saura. Vincent Moon does Take Away Shows, clearly one of the best indie music sites online. He takes touring artists and records them performing on the streets of Paris. It’s awesome.
Anyway, Dessner said that Vincent Moon was one of their first friends in Paris, so they were like his video guinea pigs and became a really good friend of the band. Now Moon is doing a film for R.E.M. and Arcade Fire, aside from the National DVD “A Skin, A Night.”
Another thing Dessner is working on now is a compilation for the Red Hot music series. Before he decided to concentrate on the National full time, Dessner worked for a new media company called Funny Garbage, which also released the Red Hot series.
Now they’re teaming up with the National’s label, Beggars Banquet, to release a compilation curated, if you will, by the National. “It’s such a good cause and great organization,” Dessner said.
The set, which will be out next year, will include the bands’ friends and favorite artists. “All of the artists we asked are very strong songwriters, independent minded musicians, and song–oriented musicians,” Dessner said. That includes Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Yo La Tengo, Spoon, The National, Grizzly Bear, Feist, Kevin Drew, Antony and the Johnsons, Bright Eyes and Cat Power.
Don’t forget to watch them at the Pabst this Friday.
the gig 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21
genre Indie rock
where Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St.
how much $15
latest release “The Boxer” (2007)
info americanmary.com
Posted on September 20, 2007 by lillitot
0