The National, The War on Drugs, and Lucius joined forces and played a sold-out show at Forest Hills Stadium on September 13th. With fans coming from all over the tri-state area, it was definitely the ultimate “Sad Dad” convention for the east coast of the United States. All three bands feature a predominantly indie rock sound and delivered powerful performances over the course of the night.

Lucius kicked off the night with their signature harmonies and captivating energy. The two frontwomen of the group, Jesse Wolfe and Holly Laessig, are well-known for their similar physical style, including stage outfits, hair, as well as their approach to performing. Dan Molad and Peter Lalish join them to complete the band. Lucius played six songs during their set, including the fan favorite “Dusty Trails.” They also invited Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs on stage to help them perform their most recent release, “Old Tape,” which features him on the studio recording as well.

Rock band The War On Drugs played the second set of the evening, and their impressive ability to play an electrifying set while still captivating the emotions of their audience quickly became evident. Adam Granduciel, the band’s lead vocalist who also plays a number of other instruments both in the studio and on stage, was joined by David Hartley (bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Robbie Bennett (keyboards, piano, guitar), Charlie Hall (drums, organ), Jon Natchez (keyboards, saxophone), and Anthony LaMarca (keyboards, backing vocals, guitar). The band played hits like “Red Eyes” and “Pain,” as well as their song with Lucius, “I Don’t Live Here Anymore.” The energy of the audience was palpable, with fans singing along and swaying to the music.

Once the set concluded, many attendees got up from their seats or left the pit to check out the venue. As someone who had only ever been to Forest Hills Stadium once before, I was excited to see what kind of attractions are inside of the tennis court-turned-concert venue. Some of the highlights I came across included a wide variety of food vendors, multiple merchandise stands, and even a tattoo parlor that offers free flash tattoos and direct views of the stage for patrons who are 21+, in partnership with Ilegal Mezcal. After taking a quick walk around the stadium, I headed back to my seat and waited for The National’s set to start.

The National, comprised of Matt Berninger (lead vocalist), brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner (guitar, keyboards, piano), and Scott and Bryan Devendorf (bass and drum respectively), are fresh off of a previous tour and have released not one but two albums within a six month period last year. When the band took the stage at 8:10pm., the pit became packed once again and every seat was occupied. The first song of the night, Don’t Swallow the Cap, set an upbeat, vibrant tone for the rest of the night. This was my second time seeing The National, and I was once again immediately impressed by their talent and the band’s ability to effortlessly connect with each other to create a cohesive sound. The setlist mixed fan favorites with newer songs, which was a great choice given The National’s diverse and large discography. Matt’s stage presence and emotional vocals kept the crowd engaged throughout the entire night, particularly during the slow ballad “I Need My Girl” and more upbeat hit “Abel.”

After playing for over an hour and a half, The National closed the night by playing their final encore song, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. Due to the strict 10pm curfew at Forest Hills Stadium, they unplugged and played the song acoustic. The entire crowd sang along, making it an extremely special moment.

The artists on this lineup are extremely talented and seasoned performers, and it was great to see them all in one night. If the Zen Diagram Tour hasn’t already stopped by your city, I highly encourage you to buy a ticket. It’s definitely worth it!