It’s been over 20 incredible years for the Eden Sessions in Cornwall, and after watching The National, supported by This Is the Kit Tuesday night, you can see why the biggest and best live bands want to tune into the unique vibe, style, and setting. Belting out, and deftly hanging back, with a stunning setlist of 26 songs, the band proved that the venue merges music and connection all in one, and if there’s a band that fits that ethos, it’s certainly The National.

I first saw them in 2008, and from that first live experience in Belfast, it’s always a genuine pleasure whenever I get the chance to not only indulge into the night, but also take along new fans, or even those who are intrigued, and I’ve never found the band not give everything – as, of course, they did earlier this week at the Eden Project. That honest, authentic relationship was there from the instant their set kicked off, slipping into the introspective Runaway with that inimitable sound of Matt Berninger’s storytelling vocals, meaning you’re drawn into a moment of instantaneous attention.

It’s could be called a cunning way to capture the audience, as you’re slowly coaxed into the feeling, but with a welcome hand movement or gesture from Matt gives you confidence to trust in what’s coming. It’s a long-built mutual respect from the stage to the audience that’s been constructed, and everyone who knows is ready for what’s to come. With so much of their career covered over the evening, which felt incredibly lucky, watching them work up close gave second song Eucalyptus an even stronger power for me – and it’s been on repeat since then, before they dived into Tropic Morning News, then Demons, Don’t Swallow the Cap – before I headed to the back of the arena to watch the slow beauty of the stage turning red for Bloodbuzz Ohio in full flow.

What’s also particularly compelling about this somehow equally world-famous and covert collection of souls, consisting of front man Matt Berninger, alongside Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, and Scott Devendorf – plus the important addition of touring musicians Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick, who bring in the vital brass and synth elements to the live shows – is that until you really know their music, from the outside it can seem like they have an indefinable level of fame but – trust me – everyone’s welcome.

With the timeless echoes of bands like The Cure, Nick Cave and R.E.M. noticeable within their live presence (and it’s no mistake they’re playing a Talking Heads song before coming on stage), The National have imprinted their own sound and style – and the Eden Sessions show felt cordially different, more intimate than some, and maybe that comes down to the setting itself. The huge biomes flanking the stage set the scene, within this former China clay pit, and as the energy and depth of their live performances is continually evident, the setlist was shuffled up as standard to divulge an outstanding mid-week gig that with an brilliant balance of raw and real.

I felt as if the band had a more relaxed chats, both with the audience (as ever) and even with the Dessner brothers chatting about Matt going off-time and off-beat so extensively (and hilariously) that Matt himself actually stepped in to stop them and say ‘I think I’m supposed to do all the talking’ to much amusement. Also, much to The National’s surprise, we even had some fans from Ohio itself in the crowd, as well as almost everywhere else, and once you love and appreciate this band, you’re pretty much in it for life – and that’s fine by me.

And, there’s more, I hadn’t even mentioned This is The Kit’s Kate Stables’ whose band gave an excellent opening support act set to start the evening, as she joined the band for I Am Easy to Find and Rylan, both personal favourites, before eventually being given a masterful finale of About Today and a beautifully stripped down Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks, the latter which brought all the band to the front of the stage, dressed in a white spotlights, as Matt’s voice had given everything, and so the crowd with the rest of the band took on the vocals to give that extra final touch of magic from an epic night.

It’s quite unassuming to say that the Eden Sessions are the best outdoor venue for gigs in the entire South-West now, there’s a great sound and experience wherever you are within the bowl of the Eden Project, and it felt perfectly made for nights likes this.

Check out more on the Eden Sessions here: edensessions.com

Photography by Dan Bullock, for exclusive use only on Critical Popcorn, please get in touch with any enquiries.

Full setlist:

Runaway
Eucalyptus
Tropic Morning News
Demons
Don’t Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz
System
I Need My Girl
Lemonworld
Geese of Beverly Road
Lit Up
Green Gloves
Laugh Track
Alien
Light Years
Easy to Find
Rylan
England
Graceless
Fake Empire
Space Invader
Smoke Detector
Mr. November
Terrible Love
About Today
Vanderlyle