Photo by Philip Cosores
There are very few songs by The National that would sound right run through the pop-punk filter of Joyce Manor. But “Mistaken For Strangers” – the guitar-heavy track off of 2007’s Boxer – definitely works. The men behind this fall’s excellent Cody took on the track as part of the A.V. Club’s A.V. Undercover series and managed to find the perfect balance between their own fist-pumping sound and The National’s staggering, wine-drunk sadness. Check it out below.
Making the quality of this version even more surprising is the fact that frontman Barry Johnson had never listened to anything by The National prior to working on the cover. “I hadn’t heard them at all before this,” he revealed. “I have become such a massive fan in the last few weeks.” See what else the band has to say in the interview below.
Update: Joyce Manor have announced a co-headlining tour with AJJ.
Joyce Manor 2017 Tour Dates:
01/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent *
01/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent *
01/20 – Guadalajara, MX @ Foro Independencia
01/21 – Mexico City, MX @ Multiforo Alicia
01/30 – Dallas, TX @ Trees *
01/31 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Café *
02/01 – Champaign, IL @ The Accord *
02/02 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme *
02/03 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall *
02/04 – Toledo, OH @ Frankie’s *
02/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Ballroom at Taft Theatre *
02/07 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt *
02/08 – Providence, RI @ Fête Ballroom *
02/09 – Amityville, NY @ Revolution *
02/10 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club *
02/11 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Shaka’s *
02/13 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club *
02/14 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa *
02/15 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
02/16 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk *
* = w/ AJJ