Just like you, one of our favorite records from ’05 was The National’s Alligator, and their next effort Boxer is out in just months (5/23 on Beggars Banquet). We’ve heard about as much of the new as you (read: none), so whatever morsels come our way we’re duty bound to share. So big thanks go to the videography crew at La Blogotheque for cluing us in to their session with the Brooklyn band, performing “Start A War” (a studio version of which is set to appear as Track 8 on the forthcoming record). Shot at a farmhouse in Mediterranean port city Banyuls, the vid captures the guys singing after a late supper, with Matt’s deep-chested baritone, an acoustic, and a percussion section comprising the rest of the dinner guests. Good stuff.

Tour dates after the jump. (See, we listen!)

05/22 – LONDON Astoria
05/23 – PARIS La Maroquinerie
05/25 – BERLIN Magnet
05/28 – NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom (with The Broken West)
05/29 – NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom (with Doveman)
05/30 – NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom (with My Brightest Diamond)
05/31 – NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom (with Elysian Fields)
06/02 – PHILADELPHIA Johnny Brendas
06/04 – MONTREAL Cabaret
06/05 – TORONTO Opera House
06/06 – DETROIT Magic Stick
06/07 – CHICAGO Metro
06/08 – MINNEAPOLIS 400 Bar
06/09 – MADISON TBA
06/11 – ST LOUIS Duck Room
06/12 – LOUISVILLE Headliners
06/13 – ATLANTA The Earl
06/14 – MANCHESTER (US) Bonnaroo Music Festival
06/15 – CINCINNATI 20th Century Theater
06/16 – COLUMBUS The Basement
06/18 – CLEVELAND Beachland Ballroom
06/19 – PITTSBURGH Rex Theater
06/20 – WASHINGTON DC 9:30 Club
06/21 – BOSTON Middle East Downstairs
06/25 – SAN DIEGO Casbah
06/26 – LOS ANGELES El Rey Theater
06/27 – SAN FRANCISCO Bimbos 365 Club
06/28 – PORTLAND Berbatis Pan
06/29 – VANCOUVER Richards On Richard
06/30 – SEATTLE Neumos