Capping off a 19-year career climb that has made them one of the top Indie Rock bands on the planet, The National — featuring Cincinnati natives Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf — won a Grammy last night for their album Sleep Well Beast. The album scored Best Alternative Music Album honors.
Earlier this month, the band — which formed after members moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. — issued a new music video for Sleep Well Beast’s “Walk It Back” to “celebrate” Donald Trump’s first year as President of the United States.
"We are honored and grateful to be recognized by the Recording Academy. The National started 19 years ago and has grown into a large extended family and community of artistic collaborators. This award is for our whole family and everyone who has helped us and listened along the way. We could never have accomplished what we have just the five of us,” National guitarist Aaron Dessner said in a statement. “We also want to recognize all the incredible music that was not nominated and awarded this year, and every year. The National lived in the shadows for many years, outside the spotlight of commercial success and accolades. There is so much vital and important art and music being made in every corner, whether it's put up on a pedestal at year end or not. Thank you."
The National recently unveiled the lineup for their forthcoming Homecoming festival at Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park April 27-29 (as well as some of the programming for this year’s MusicNOW fest, the popular new music event founded by guitarist Bryce Dessner in 2006 and running simultaneous to Homecoming). Find ticket and other info here.
