It’s going to be tough to convey what an impressive show The National put on last night. I should start with praise for the musicianship of the band’s members and move on to the well-thought out set list. And then there were the two encores, delaying the unfortunate and inevitable end of the show.

But, let’s face it, music geek types like me were completely transfixed by Matt Berninger’s voice, a deep and utterly sex-filled baritone. Granted, he grips the microphone Ian Curtis-style making it hard to see the mouth that’s forming those melodious sounds. And his stage presence is most definitely one of awkwardness...when he wasn’t singing, he was back near the drummer or uncomfortably hitting his hand against his hip. This is geeky awkwardness of the highest order and it is absolutely riveting to a certain part of the audience (I couldn’t have been the only one).

I’m put together beautifully
Big wet bottle in my fist, big wet rose in my teeth
I’m perfect piece of ass

Yes, he is definitely that...for a whole lot of reasons. And getting to hear the band’s self-deprecating yet insightful lyrics live for the second time (last year’s opening stint for Arcade Fire left me-- and, I’m sure-- the rest of the audience eager to hear more) put last night’s show on my Top Five for 2008 list, regardless of who else I may end up seeing. By the way, I don’t know if the rest of the audience noticed, but I think he was singing “Slow Show” to me personally.