photo by Andrew Blackstein

Last night, The National made their debut at Port Chester, N.Y.’s Capitol Theatre as part of a Sound on Sound-related event. The group used the opportunity to debut a new song, “Moon Drop Light,” which they mentioned they wrote just this past Thursday.

Other highlights from the show included a nod to the venue with set opener “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” fan favorites “Buzzblood Ohio,” “Pink Rabbits,” “Graceless,” and set closer “Fake Empire” along with encore opener of their Aug. 22 release with Bon Iver, “Weird Goodbyes.” Guitarist Aaron Dessner also teased the Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter classic “Bird Song,” which the Grateful Dead debuted at The Capitol Theatre in 1971, a few times near the end of the show.

It’s of note that Dessner, along with the National’s Scott and Bryan Devendorf, performed at The Capitol Theatre in 2016 when they backed Bob Weir.

Find the full setlist below.

The National
The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y.
Sept. 23, 2022

Set: Don’t Swallow the Cap, I Should Live in Salt, Bloodbuzz Ohio, The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness, I Need My Girl, This Is the Last Time, Slow Show, This Isn’t Helping, Wasp Nest, Moon Drop Light (Live debut), Conversation 16, Tropic Morning News (Haversham), Day I Die, Rylan (with Indigo Sparke), Light Years, Pink Rabbits, England, Graceless, Fake Empire 

Enc.: Weird Goodbyes, Mr. November, Terrible Love, About Today, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks