What's going on in Cambridge

The National

While we'd like to stay the hell out of the Mac vs. PC debate because, when it comes down to it, as long as we can go on Facebook we're happy, Itchy has to admit that iTunes have done a good deed with this month's extravaganza of music at The Roundhouse. They've sorted out top-notch performances from amazing bands every night in July and are giving the tickets away for sweet bugger all.

We thought we'd give one of 2010's success stories a go and visited Camden's most respectable music venue to see The National. It was nothing short of mesmerising. The Roundhouse, in all its squashed warehouse-like hazy glory, was quite the place to bask in Matt Berninger's rumble of a voice. Even if we did melt faster than the wicked witch of the west in a paddling pool thanks to some pretty poor air-con.

How is it that a band eleven years into the running has come up with a sound that's so very now? You could be forgiven for thinking upon first listen that Bloodbuzz Ohio was the best new song on the block from some improvement on Editors. Or at least we hope you could, because we did. Until we realised that High Violet is in fact their fifth album, and it's amazing.

Naturally Bloodbuzz was a highlight, the singer's concentration so intense that the usually verging-on-nonsensical lyrics seemed like the meaning of life for a few short minutes. Anyone's Ghost also had us captivated. We don't normally pay such close attention to anything on a Saturday night, especially not after a pint or two. Which just proves that they really are something special.

Apply for remaining iTunes Festival tickets at www.itunesfestival.co.uk

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