Warning: Smoking Ban inspection during The National on Sunday 21 October 2010

Since 1 January 2006 it has no longer been permitted to smoke in public places, so not in AB either. After consultation between AB and the Federal Department of Public Health, Food-Chain Safety and the Environment, there will be a number of inspections carried out in the AB over the coming months by the Public Health department.

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American band The National again made a great leap forward with ‘High Violet’. Following on from the much praised ‘Alligator’ of 2005 and ‘Boxer’ of 2007, ‘High Violet’ is yet another collection of dark pearls from the hand of singer Matt Berninger, accompanied by the 2 Dessner brothers and the 2 Devendorf brothers. ‘High Violet’ is the first album to be recorded in an old 1920's garage in Brooklyn that they converted into a studio. The technical limitations mean that this is no hi-fi album, rather, it's one in which Berninger can playfully realise his desire to sound like eg: hot asphalt (sic). In the category ‘with a little help from my friends’: we recognize (just as with Boxer) Sufjan Stevens but this time also Richard Reed Parry from Arcade Fire.
The National, established in Ohio but now resideing in Brooklyn, are difficult to categorize, as evidenced by their involvment in the Red Hot Organisation project ‘Dark Was The Night’. This compilation to benifit Aids organisations was produced by brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner and contains recordings by Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and Yeasayer. Later the Dessners were also asked to write a 70 minute song for the Howard Gilman Opera House. Kim and Kelly Deal (Breeders, Pixies) and Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) provided the vocals.
The National is a band with many faces and an impressive discography. So don't miss their return to the AB.

Lovers of the better songs, celebrate! Special Guest to the concert by The National will be none less than Phosphorescent or rather Brooklynite Matthew Houck. No unknown to AB as, after 2 eye-opening visits to the ABClub (2007 & 2008) and providing the support act to (strangely enough) David Gray early this year, Houck & Co. may now come and present the new album ‘Here’s To Taking It Easy’. He also surprised friend and foe last year with his ode to Willie Nelson, simply entitled ‘To Willie’. Don't miss this show as Phosphorescent is tipped as one of the big songwriters of the new century.