As some of you may know, The National support when their shows are recorded with pro equipment from the audience and shared for free, e.g. via DIME or the Live Music Archive (LMA- audio, no video - full archive available here: https://archive.org/details/TheNational). This year I was allowed to cover the AB100 show at the Teatro Kursaal in Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain.

The recording is in FLAC and MP3 format, so may need to be converted to another format after download before playing. The recording could also be streamed. Enjoy, it's worth every second. The band was on fire after a two year break and delivered an outstanding performance.

Thanks to The National, their management and crew for allowing us tapers to preserve their shows for future listening and being so supportive and helpful. Never pay to download or otherwise get hold of these recordings, they are available for free at the LMA - beat the bootleggers!

Stream or download the recording here: https://archive.org/details/NTL2026-10-18.mk41v

Be aware: the recording was made with permission from the band and their management, but this is still an audience recording (albeit a very good one I think) therefore you sometimes here people talk, scream, clap, cough or sing. Enjoy!

My personal comments:

The first NTL concert in around two years, to mark the special occasion of AB100 (https://www.kursaal.eus/es/2026/07/the-national-actuara-en-donostia-san-sebastian-como-parte-del-encuentro-ab100/). With permission from the management to record openly, I travelled to Donostia / San Sebastian full of anticipation – and my expectations were more than fulfilled!

The show was characterised by a band brimming with enthusiasm, an enthusiastic audience, plenty of spontaneous elements and the odd hiccup here and there after a two-year break, though these did not detract from the show.

Towards the end of ‘Light Years’, there was a brief moment of panic because the fans who had moved forward from their seats were creating such a lively atmosphere that the orchestra pit below – which was covered and intended only for the ‘regular audience’ – could have collapsed. Matt solved the problem by making his way through the rows of seats and asking those at the front to join him and spread out across the empty seats.

A total of four recordings were made: Schoeps MK41v (DIN, 20cm, 90 degrees); MK5 Cards (DINa, 17 cm, 90 degrees), MK22 (NOS 30 cm, 90 degrees) and DPA 4061 SG (NOS 30 cm, 90 degrees). The microphone stand was positioned slightly to the right of centre in the Kursaal, next to the mixing desk; there was simply no room for it anywhere else in the hall. As the FOH (Front of House) position was very far back, the recording sounds slightly distant; that is why the take made with the MK41v Hypercards is the best one. 

A heartfelt thank you to the band, their management (Erik) and crew (Paul, Adam, Stu, everybody else): it was once again a great experience to be able to record this band and to be supported by people who are always helpful, supportive and very friendly.

I’d be delighted if the band were to get together for another album and go on tour again (Open the Pit 27!).