twilight of the gods
When on July 29, in the middle of summer, the musical meeting was announced AB100 to celebrate the 50th birthday of brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner, the most die-hard fans of The National They had their particular ascent to the heavens. It was an unusual celebration since, during the weekend of October 17 and 18 and in Basque lands – between Biarritz and San Sebastián –, the band would meet with their loved ones to enjoy different musical acts, to end up putting the finishing touch with The National & Friendsthe closing concert at the Kursaal, with guests and collaborators.
And it was precisely the concert in the auditorium, which could end a second day, that took us deeper into the sound and artistic universe of the American band. Since the presentation of “A lot of Sorrow”Ragnar Kjartansson’s six-hour performance with The National in Tabakalera, to the musical gatherings of “Song Circle” and “Sirens” At the Teatro Principal, the events left their mark on the city, creating a festival atmosphere in the city. Meanwhile, the followers seemed to move between streets, terraces and bars, with the language of Shakespeare spreading along the paths that led to the Kursaal.
Upon crossing the doors of the auditorium, hundreds of people were ready to embark on a sound journey from another era. The venue would become a new agora: between silences, imperfections, humanism and acceptance. A collective meeting to recognize, between guitars, our destiny.
“Humiliation” was the beginning of it all. The band opened its doors to a space in which shame, failure and personal contradictions did not have to hide under any mask. Matt Berninger perfectly adopted, from the first moment, that mystical figure in which the heroes faced their own insecurities. The sweet guitars of the Dessner twins on “This is the Last Time” and the deep “Don’t Swallow the Cap” brought another layer of rawness to the story.
With “I Should Live in Salt” guilt and regret evolved towards acceptance and, on the part of the public, the first timid hints of closeness began. Berninger knew how to read the gesture and break the ice with that welcoming, almost paternal attitude, which seemed to invite the most daring to take a step forward. With the singer dedicated to the cause, the event seemed to transform into a timeless space. If Berninger was the tragic protagonist, the chorus was made up of the musicians and the audience, especially in “Mistaken for Strangers”, where the applause and screams took their due space. Aaron and Bryce seemed to enjoy their own celebration, while Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums) provided rhythmic support. Musicians Kyle Resnick and Ben Lanz completed the lineup.
“Lemonworld”, the first song to drop from “High Violet” (10) – the album that marked the band’s definitive consecration and its breakthrough to the general public – reminded us of the inevitable need to escape an idealized world to escape harsh reality. On the other hand, “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”, from the experimental and dark “Sleep Well Beast” (17), brought us the first electric riffs, with their mechanical and nervous rhythm. After this, upon hearing the first arpeggios of “Runaway”, the audience rose from their seats. The feeling that, together, we can face any situation, including human vulnerability and interpersonal relationships, took over the entire room.
At an event like this it was clear that, sooner or later, the first guest would make an appearance. The doubt was resolved in this middle part of the concert, after “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and the gothic country “90-Mile Water Wall”, with “Sorrow”. They played it twice and, on the second, the Icelandic artist’s voice was included Ragnar Kjartanssonwith an emotional weight that is difficult to describe. Their presence recovered the collaboration that began in 2013, when The National They performed this same song for six consecutive hours for “A lot of Sorrow.” There was also talk of the possible presence of Michael Stipe. The night before, the former REM vocalist had appeared by surprise on AB100 Mixtapeheld at the Sala Atabal in Biarritz, where different musicians and friends would share the stage. Bryce has been living in Biarritz for some time, while Aaron also often spends short periods there.
The second collaboration was more choral. After the ironic “Pink Rabbits”, three artists linked to the Dessners’ musical universe joined in to perform “Oblivions”: Pauline de Tarragon, Lisa Hannigan and Kate Stables. The contrast between the voices turned the song into a shared dialogue, which perfectly reflects the spirit of “I am Easy to Find” (19), an album in which female voices take on a special role. “Smoke Detector” brought us down the soufflé before the band attacked again with the deep “Light Years,” which was sung by everyone. “England” would raise the intensity even further. Berninger walked down the stairs and into the crowd, while “Fake Empire” was close to perfection.
With “Terrible Love” Berninger would remind us how important love is, despite its messes, and “About Today” seemed like it was going to lead us to the end of the concert, but no. There were still emotions to share. “Once Upon a Poolside” prolonged that intimate atmosphere before the final closing came. And what better way to say goodbye to a celebration like this than with “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks”, accompanied by all the guests. After the cathartic journey taken for two hours, this last interpretation offered an image of hope, serenity and joy: that of a community reunited.
It was much more than a celebration. It was returning to the innocent certainty that music, sometimes, becomes our best ally, even in the lowest moments. The National He reminded us again, but this time in company.
