New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The
National have announced the December 13 release of Rome, a 21-track digital and two-LP set recorded live (without overdubs) on June 3, 2024 at the Italian city's Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone. The double album, mixed by longtime collaborator
Peter Katis, spans the band's 20-plus years of songwriting and reveals how each song has taken on a new life in its live performance. "You have to see this band live" is often said about The National, and now, Rome is the next best thing to actually being there.
Members of the band's Cherry Tree fan club will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive, tricolor triple-LP featuring five additional songs to complete the 26-song set on colored vinyl that pays homage to the Italian flag. The band has also released a four-song EP titled NTL RM EP I, featuring Rome highlights "I Need My Girl," "Lemonworld," "The Geese of Beverly Road" and "Lit Up."
Rome is the definitive live document of The National. Recorded at the architecturally stunning venue Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, named for the famed Italian film composer, the 21-track LP showcases scintillating versions of beloved songs like "Bloodbuzz Ohio," "Don't Swallow the Cap," "I Need My Girl," "The
System Only Dreams in
Total Darkness," "England" and "Fake Empire"; plus sharpened readings of recent tracks "Eucalyptus," "New Order T-Shirt," "Tropic Morning News" and the boundary pushing "Smoke Detector."
Reflecting how the band changes setlists significantly from night to night to cast fresh light on hidden gems from the catalog, Rome is marked by rarities such as show opener "Runaway," "Lemonworld," "The Geese of Beverly Road," "Lit Up" and a tour de force pairing of "Humiliation" from the critically acclaimed album Trouble Will Find Me into Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers' "Murder Me Rachael."
The Rome encore features the election anthem "Mr. November," and, from High Violet, "Terrible Love" and the show-closing fan singalong, "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks."
In their live show review, The Guardian called The
National "an era-defining band at the peak of their powers...as this stunning two-and-a-half-hour epic becomes a communal catharsis." Rolling Stone UK also said "it's clear that the band...have deserved their place at the top table for a decade now....A show that's simply euphoric, and sees the band reaching a new peak."
The
National just began their Zen Diagram tour with special guests The War on Drugs and Lucius. The run will visit beloved outdoor venues across North
America as well as arenas in such locales as
Chicago (Sept. 24, United Center), Seattle (Oct. 1, Climate Pledge Arena) and Portland, Ore. (Oct. 2, Moda Center). The tour winds down at the Greek Theatre (Oct. 6) in
Berkeley and the Hollywood Bowl (Oct. 7) in Los Angeles before wrapping Oct. 10 in Mexico City. See all tour dates below.
ROME TRACKLISTING (2LP):
Side A:
Runaway
Eucalyptus
Tropic Morning News
New Order T-Shirt
Don't Swallow The Cap
Side B:
Bloodbuzz Ohio
The
System Only Dreams In
Total Darkness
I Need My Girl
Lemonworld
The Geese of Beverly Road
Lit Up
Side C:
Alien
Humiliation
Murder Me Rachael
England
Graceless
Side D:
Fake Empire
Smoke Detector
Mr November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
The
National - Zen Diagram Tour w/ The War on Drugs and Lucius:
Tue Sep 24 — Chicago, IL — United Center
Wed Sep 25 — Sterling Heights, MI — Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Thu Sep 26 — Madison, WI — Breese
Stevens Field
Sat Sept 28 — Englewood, CO — Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 29 — Salt Lake City, UT — Granary Live
Tue Oct 01 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena
Wed Oct 02 — Vancouver, BC — Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Thu Oct 03 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
Fri Oct 05 — Napa, CA — The Mertage
Sun Oct 06 — Berkeley, CA — The Greek Theatre
Mon Oct 07 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl
Thu Oct 10 — Mexico City, MX — Palacio De Los Deportes ^
^ Without Lucius.
