Pitchfork

The National are hardly the flashiest band in the world, but they certainly mastered the slow burn with über-grower Boxer. And any approach that results in a tour with R.E.M. and Modest Mouse seems like a pretty good formula for success.

The band's newest way for us to soak up the Boxer experience is through a digital live EP released through online music service Rhapsody. It's titled Rhapsody Rocks NYC and features four Boxer tunes recorded live at an exclusive show during last year's CMJ Music Marathon. It's available for purchase right now.

Before they join forces with the Rems and the Mouses on the aforementioned tour, the National have a handful of dates, starting with a pair of February shows at the Brooklyn Next festival.

Rhapsody Rocks NYC:

01 Mistaken for Strangers
02 Brainy
03 Slow Show
04 Fake Empire

The National:

02-22 Brooklyn, NY - BAM Opera House (Brooklyn Next) !
02-23 Brooklyn, NY - BAM Opera House (Brooklyn Next) !
03-09 Big Cypress, FL - Big Cypress Indian Reservation (Langerado)
04-25 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
05-14 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
05-15 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
05-16-18 Minehead, England - Butlins Holiday Centre (Explosions in the Sky ATP)
05-23 Vancouver, British Columbia - Deer Lake Park *
05-29 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
05-31 Berkeley, CA - The Greek Theatre *
06-03 Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
06-06 Chicago, IL - United Center *
06-08 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre *
06-10 Raleigh, North Carolina - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre *
06-11 Washington, DC - Merriweather Post Pavilion *
06-13 Boston, MA - Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts *
06-14 Long Island, NY - Jones Beach Theater *
06-18 Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center for the Performing Arts *
06-19 New York, NY - TBA *
06-21 Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre *

! with My Brightest Diamond
* with R.E.M., Modest Mouse