In honor of the band's new album release "Trouble Will Find Me," The National performed three surprise shows at small venues in New York City Tuesday, according to Rolling Stone.
The band who is embarking on a tour accommodating venues holding 2,000 or more, performed at two small clubs in Brooklyn and in Manhattan at Mercury Lounge, a space that holds about 250 people.
But that is how the band got their start.
The band announced the shows through social networking, giving fans the chance to retrieve tickets to the intimate gigs. The first show was performed at 12:30 p.m. at Sycamore, a small bar and flower shop in Brooklyn, and was announced on Twitter. The second was held at 5:30 p.m. at Public Assembly in Brooklyn. Tickets were distributed online. The 10 p.m. show was put on at Mercury Lounge in Manhattan.
Singer Matt Berninger told the Mercury Lounge audience, "The first time we played here, it was a huge deal for us. This venue means more to us than any in the world," according to Rolling Stone.
The band's new album follows their breakthrough LP release "High Violet," making this record their sixth. The band told Rolling Stone they began recording the new release, "Trouble Will Find Me," the night Superstorm Sandy hit New York City. The indie band's latest material pulls influences from Roy Orbison, Simon and Garfunkel and Bob Dylan, the group told Rolling Stone.
