Pitchfork

In what's being described (by me) as the record nerd double-bill of the second quarter, yarn spinning Brooklynites the National will bring seven loads of urban grittiness to the pomp and circumstance of the smoldering Arcade Fire, as the National have been announced as the opener for a string of previously-announced Arcade Fire dates.

With Neon Bible-thumpin' and Boxer vs. Alligator debate concurrently reaching fever pitch, these will be hot tickets, for sure. Or rather, were hot tickets, as most of the shows are sold out already. So expect to give a scalper something you'd only give your significant other on his/her birthday.

In other Arcade Fire news, their "Keep the Car Running" single drops May 5 in the U.S. In other National news, they're touring with Arcade Fire. OMFG 4 REALZZZ.

Arcade Fire and the National:

05-01 Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Civic Centre Theatre
05-02 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
05-04 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
05-05 Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
05-07 New York, NY - United Palace
05-08 New York, NY - United Palace
05-09 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall (High Line Festival)

National:

05-22 London, England - Astoria &
05-23 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie
05-25 Berlin, Germany - Magnet
05-28 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
05-29 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom #
05-30 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom %
05-31 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom $
06-01 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom @
06-02 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06-04 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret !
06-05 Toronto, Ontario - Opera House !
06-06 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick !^
06-07 Chicago, IL - Metro !^
06-08 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar !^
06-09 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon !^
06-11 St. Louis, MO - Duck Room !^
06-12 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall !^
06-13 Atlanta, GA - The Earl !^
06-14 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival
06-15 Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theater !^
06-16 Columbus, OH - The Basement !^
06-18 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom !^
06-19 Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater !^
06-20 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club !^
06-21 Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs !^
06-25 San Diego, CA - Casbah +
06-26 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater +
06-27 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club +
06-28 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan +
06-29 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards +
06-30 Seattle, WA - Neumos +
07-15 Suffolk, England - Latitude Festival

& with Annuals
* with the Broken West
# with Doveman
% with My Brightest Diamond
$ with Elysian Fields
@ with Philistines Jr.
! with Shapes and Sizes
^ with Talkdemonic
+ with the Broken West

Arcade Fire:

04-26 San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
04-28 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
05-10 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
05-12 Montreal, Quebec - Arena Maurice Richard
05-13 Montreal, Quebec - Arena Maurice Richard
05-15 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
05-16 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
05-18 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-20 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-24 Vancouver, British Columbia - Deer Lake Park
05-26 George, WA - The Gorge (Sasquatch! Festival)
05-27 Portland, OR - Schnitzer Concert Hall
06-01 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
06-02 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
06-22-24 Pilton, England - Glastonbury
06-26-30 Arendal, Norway - Hove Festival
07-07 Balado, Scotland - T in the Park
07-08 Naas, Ireland - Oxegen Festival
07-12-15 Suffolk, England - Latitude Festival
07-13-14 Barcelona, Spain - Summercase
08-25 Reading, England - Reading Festival
08-26 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival