Matt Berninger's Solo Debut: Unveiling 'Get Sunk' Live in Leeds

Experience the electrifying moment as Matt Berninger performs solo for the first time, featuring tracks from his new album 'Get Sunk.'

First Live Performance of Solo Material

Matt Berninger, the talented frontman of the indie rock band The National, has taken a significant step in his musical journey by performing his solo material live for the very first time. This momentous occasion occurred during his show at Leeds' Brudenell Social Club, where he also previewed tracks from his upcoming album, ‘Get Sunk,’ set to be released on May 30 via Concord/Book Records.

A Journey Through Music

Previously, Berninger had released his debut solo album, Serpentine Prison, in 2020, but the pandemic made it impossible for him to perform the tracks. Now, with the anticipation building around Get Sunk, fans were excited to experience the live debuts of his new songs that night.

Over two sold-out shows on April 2 and 3, Berninger captivated audiences with a mix of unreleased snippets and fan favorites. The setlist included stunning live debuts of songs such as ‘Inland Ocean,’ ‘Breaking Into Acting,’ ‘Junk,’ ‘One More Second,’ and ‘Little By Little.’ Berninger also delighted fans by performing The National’s poignant track ‘Gospel.’

You can check out some footage from this intimate performance below:

Setlist Highlights

Matt Berninger Setlist – Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club – April 2

• Inland Ocean
• No Love
• Distant Axis
• Bonnet of Pins
• Breaking Into Acting
• Frozen Oranges
• Serpentine Prison
• Silver Springs
• Let It Be
• Junk
• All For Nothing
• One More Second
• Silver Jeep
• Little By Little
• Gospel
• Time of Difficulty

After his intimate Leeds performances, Berninger is set to play at London's KEF Music Gallery and Union Chapel, both featuring Q&As hosted by Huw Stephens and Matt Everitt, respectively. The Leeds shows included a Q&A session with BBC Radio 6’s Chris Hawkins, enriching the overall experience.

Upcoming Tours and New Music

Berninger's tour will soon kick off across North America, the UK, and Europe. Starting with North American stops on May 19 in Seattle, he will perform in major cities like Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York. Following this, he will head to Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, and London in August, wrapping up with European gigs in Antwerp, Paris, Berlin, and Oslo.

Find out more about purchasing tickets for upcoming shows below:

• US and EU shows tickets
• UK dates tickets

Reflections on His Solo Journey

Reflecting on his solo journey, Berninger has expressed the emotional weight behind his music. He remarked, “Most of my songs are love songs to myself or that champion me. They’re cheerleading songs for my own soul.” This deep connection to his music is evident in his performances, where he explores intimate themes of personal struggle and triumph.

“I tried to reboot myself physically, mentally and everything. Everything burned down. My brain burned to the ashes, and I had to slowly rebuild it up again somehow.” - Matt Berninger

In a subsequent interview, Berninger opened up about the challenges posed by the pandemic, stating, "It was sobering to realize how fragile I was. Looking back, I was sick as hell. It was a total emotional and physical paralysis."

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