Watch: The National on Letterman – “Conversation 16”

On the National’s last visit to the Late Show, they brought High Violet collaborator Sufjan Stevens along to celebrate that week’s release of their 5th album with an inspired rendition of “Afraid of Everyone.” Now, 9 months and a few victory laps later, Matt Berninger and the Dessner/Devendorf brothers have returned to New York — Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry in tow — to cement their well-deserved breakthrough year. Speaking of Parry, anyone in the Chicago area at the end of April might want to catch the upcoming National/AF double-bill weekend.