Music Blog

The headliners occupy our attention leading into a music festival. The National was the first band I noticed when the MFNW lineup was unveiled more than two months ago. And The National was the first band I thought of whenever the subject of the festival was raised. But the “big names” hardly ever end up being the story after a festival is said and done. The brilliant surprises - the Wampires, Big Freedias, and Y La Bambas - form an identity. The headliners become more like a punch line.

Looking across Pioneer Square last night the scene was calm. Breezy clear skies, tacos in hand, and total pros on the stage. I missed opener’s Talkdemonic, but caught most of The Helio Sequence. The Portland duo’s electro indie-rock and layered harmonies capably filled the open terrain of Portland’s Living Room. Leaning heavily on material from 2008’s Keep Your Eyes Ahead, they were a good primer before the deluge of New York City art rock. 

A slight weariness from devoted MFNW festival attendees led into Sunday evening’s finale. I gathered from the testimony of crowd-mates at previous events some disappointment with the choice of The Walkmen and The National to close the festival. People said they were too dark, too brooding. I admit these sentiments had begun to color my expectations. But as soon as The Walkmen took the stage and dropped into "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone", any skepticism washed away. This was exactly what I felt like hearing.

The Walkmen dove into songs from Lisbon (their new album dropping tomorrow) early in their set. I counted five new songs. "Angela Surf City" was the cream of the crop. Built from rhythmic fragments, singer Hamilton Leithauser’s voice soars over a surging backdrop. This energy was only surpassed by crowd-favorite "The Rat". Leithauser screamed the closing chorus and for the thousandth time it still felt good.

The National’s singer Matt Berninger opened by remarking that one of the overlooking downtown buildings looked like a Christmas tree cake. This was just the start of the light-hearted stage banter that completely contradicted the content of their music.  Their set drew heavily from this year’s High Violet and 2007's Boxer. Though they also dug into a few deep cuts such as “Cardinal Song” and “Mr. November”.

The National were at their best when Berninger was teetering on the edge of madness. He seemed genuinely unhinged as he circled the stage in a fit and screamed into the microphone, lost in the world of his lyrics. Their rock masterpiece “Fake Empire” was one of the most transcendent performances of the evening. Amid a torrent of horns and guitars, Berninger’s searching words felt as relevant as ever.

The band gave a four-song encore that ended with High Violet standout “Terrible Love”.  And then MFNW 2010 was over.  

I felt nostalgic for the week’s festivities as the crowd poured out of Pioneer Square. It’s not everyday you get to see a Brazilian funk rock band in a dive bar back-to-back with Big Freedia. But I also looked forward to next year's festival and all the other great music events Portland will host in the interim. And that's when I realized the evening's line-up was a conspicuously  well-planned send-off. Who else but The National to send us back to work. Well-played, MFNW.

- Alex Lewis

Tagged: MFNW 2010