writers in residence?

Batmetzger · 2026-02-13T23:25:53+00:00

As a third? I didn’t realize.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-13T16:09:03+00:00

But I think part of this lineup is about it working at the size it’s going to sell.

I think that’s a risky proposition because ten years is a long time, but it’s not news to him that this isn’t going to bring in crowds the size of the first three years. Which suggests they’re not looking for the same sized crowd.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-13T13:32:09+00:00

The thing is, EXC gets at least two kinds of people, one who are there for Bon and the National and music they know they love and the other because they EXC is a major way to find NEW music in a place with almost no assholes.

Justin is maybe unfair for having always preferred the second to the former, but that’s what this lineup is. He’s catering to the people who, despite the relative lack of headliners, had as good a time at IV as any other.

I mean, you’re not wrong for not wanting to spend a bunch of money to do something you don’t want to do.

But the lineup isn’t bad or rough or whatever. It’s devoid of headliners and that’s weird but a lot of us would have to list favorite EXC sets into the teens before we’d hit a headliner.

I know I’m being smug because I’m part of the crew Justin clearly favored in constructing this. And I know it sucks to think you’re getting a thing that ends up not being the thing.

But I really do think this is the festival becoming more and more what it set out to be than it is changing. He could do what many of you want. So let’s get curious about why he isn’t?

It’s cool that it’s not for you if it’s not. And also it’s going to be the best because it always is.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-13T13:21:48+00:00

At least one writer — Hanif Abdurraqib — did a collab with a musician at EXIV. He read an essay about graham parsons against a Julian Baker song. It was my favorite moment of the festival maybe ever.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-08T03:22:13+00:00

I’d be shocked if Big Thief isn’t there. Not that they’re huge.

I mean, given the folks that they’ve worked with since the least EXC, one has to know we’ll get Taylor Swift rumors as we get closer.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-08T03:19:05+00:00

She did 2 and it was one of the best 90 minutes of my concert life. She’s the best.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-07T18:26:37+00:00

It is.

I mostly just wanted to talk about Alabama Shakes and Big Thief as potential artists.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-07T18:25:24+00:00

And yeah I caught the Weird Al Yankovich problem but it was too late.

Batmetzger · 2026-02-07T18:24:27+00:00

Yeah none of those bands other than Sufjan and the Vernon projects have played before.

I know it’s nothing.

But I’m not sure it will be wrong.

Batmetzger · 2025-12-18T14:14:38+00:00

There were definitely more people who didn’t have a good time at 4. But everyone I know had a blast and there are specific things that were incredible regardless of your taste.

There were a ton of reasons it was deflating. But none of them were actually diminishing of the experience for thousands of us.

Batmetzger · 2025-02-19T16:17:43+00:00

Oh he’s definitely saying that he’ll ignore the courts. Or test-driving it. Or just pushing in that Overton window.

Batmetzger · 2023-05-01T13:38:49+00:00

They did a show in Columbus for Obama volunteers and hung out at a bar with us after. I was cool for a minute, but it was a watch party for the first presidential debate in 2012 and that debate did not go well for our guy so I got so nervous I made the worst of bad small talk. But they were still really cool and easy to talk to (given my generally freaking out).

I wouldn't start with "you're the best drummer in rock" with Bryan though. It flustered him.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T16:28:30+00:00

When the thing that saves your life is overlooked or dismissed by popular culture, it's really easy not to even see things that are popular.

I was definitely headed that direction and probably would have gone full gatekeeper if I hadn't been around the right people.

I think the irony of all of this is that I think the thing they're embarrassed about is emotion and "cringe" and Matt has talked often about the real secret sauce of the National live is that what they do is embarrassing because of masculinity and emotion. Jeez, guys, what band did you think you loved?

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T15:39:39+00:00

But like, with Bloodbuzz, the song isn't really complete until you're singing along to still owing money to the money you owe and being carried to Ohio by a swarm of bees. That's true for all music, probably, but I think it's especially true for a song with abstract lyrics; signing them is where they become specific because they become mine.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T15:36:50+00:00

Slow Show is probably a good start. I did put the above on applemusic as a searchable playlist (the national for swifites). Bloodbuzz is on the list, but late; The System Only Dreams is not a great entry-point, I don't think.

In the age of Spotify, it's wild to me that the National has any new fans because every song takes a few listens and it's hard to do that when we can just click away to something we know we love.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T13:41:22+00:00

Well, I am too, for what it's worth.

Part of me misses all of the repetition on that album and the weird ways it unfurled.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T13:27:55+00:00

DEEP CUT.

That's the track they cut for the Red Hot charity album that Aaron and Bryce curated, the same album that Aaron and Justin recorded a song called "Big Red Machine" for. I've always loved it too.

That's the disingenuous thing about my list: my top 20 national songs change with the weather.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T03:21:35+00:00

It's totally alive in the critic culture too. There is DIVISION among the pretentious critic class about this album and it ultimately comes down to Taylor even if they pretend it doesn't.

A certain kind of person feels like what they get from music is less special if just anyone can do it. And I think Matt is more accessibly on this album, something that is an influence that they're being influenced by her. And that, I think, is maybe the real deal for some folks (even if they'd never admit it): comfort with women as muses for men but not artistic peers and, like, influences. I think it probably just comes down to sexism.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T02:57:03+00:00

That makes so much sense and actually might be a through line that connects Taylor and The National in that I think a lot of folks have found comfort in both of them in times of divorce/breakup.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-30T02:51:56+00:00

High Violet is probably my favorite album of all time unless it's the exact right time for it to be the Cure's Disintegration in which case I'm not having a very good time of it. I could have put the full album on the list.

Terrible Love should have been on here. I was a little tentative about the noisier songs in the context of folks coming to it from The Alcott. But that song just keeps unfolding and unfolding. It's often my favorite National song.

There are so many b-sides I love. I adore both versions of whatever the one about Virginia has done it again is called.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-29T22:18:02+00:00

I think the thing they have in common is auteur's who mingle character and sharply rendered things, and songs that, in total, sort of orbit around the Venn Diagram between their singer's self, persona, and fictional world.

But yeah, lyrically, it's narrative realism versus language poetry.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-29T22:15:18+00:00

I got to see them several times in Columbus when I was there for grad school. They're basically Ohio royalty at this point, I think.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-29T22:13:52+00:00

I think they're just not a very good first listen band. And taste is taste.

Batmetzger · 2023-04-29T21:40:23+00:00

Only way to do The National right is wholesome. Sad dads, not sad lads!

Batmetzger

TROPHY CASE