Sufjan Stevens, who recorded vocal and harmonium parts on one of this week’s most beloved indie rock records, High Violet, joined the National for their live rendition of “Afraid of Everyone” tonight, providing backup vox and tambourine on the Late Show with David Letterman.
It was a stunning performance (duh), not to mention one which just might give Matt Berninger and the boys an edge in the race for the highest selling album of the week. High Violet‘s lead competitor is reportedly the Dead Weather’s Sea of Cowards, so yeah, we won’t be going all Sophie’s Choice on this one. Either way, good music wins this round. Watch Sufjan, the Dessner/Devendorf brothers, and a small horn section play “Afraid of Everyone” below (via Audio Perv):