The National

After My Bloody Valentine’s killing at Roseland earlier this week, we’re not sure there’s much music worth seeing or that we’d even have the capacity to hear it after such a brutal sonic barrage. But no matter ... the show must go on, particularly when they are birthdays to be had.

It’s the Echo & the Bunnymen’s 30th Anniversary, folks. So how old do you feel now? We hope not too old to make it out to Radio City Music Hall for the band’s only U.S. appearance this year. On Wednesday, October 1, the Bunnymen—otherwise known as the original Coldplay—will perform the entirety of their classic 1984 album Ocean Rain in the company of a 10-piece orchestra.  read more »

Tonight's The Nationals, Yeasayer and Plants and Animals show at Central Park's SummerStage is sold out. But wait! You can still get tickets if you sign on to Facebook! Gothamist reports that New York comic Mike Birbiglia (who has a Web site, MySpace, Flickr and Twitter blog) is promising to give two tickets to the Facebooker who can write the nicest thing on his "wall." No heckling allowed!

>> The National, Feb. 22-23, Brooklyn Academy of Music (sold out)

"No way! A 2,500 seat theater!" said The National’s Bryce Dessner, sounding more like one his band’s teenage fans than a well-traveled 34-year-old guitarist. He was calling from Ditmas Park—a few neighborhoods south of the Brooklyn Academy of Music where his brooding hometown band will take the stage for two sold-out nights tonight and tomorrow night. "It's just not something we would have considered."  read more »