The National's Zen Diagram Tour Kicks Off in New Hampshire

The venue seemed an unlikely start for this indie tour, as Gilford is traditionally home to country and metal acts, with most alternative/indie and folk artists playing larger venues in Maine like Thompson's Point. After this show, it's safe to say indie-rock can make it anywhere.

Lucius took the stage first, and warmed up the audience with a short but engaging set. The duo opened with "Zombies", a chilling a cappella which highlighted each of their distinctive vocals in a smooth harmony, before transitioning into heavy-hitters like "Nothing Ordinary" and "Genevieve", accompanied by powerful percussion and riffs from the band. Though the stage setup was sparse, the energy of each song building to the next energized the crowd, and left them wanting more.

The War On Drugs kept the energy going with a set of mellow but immersive hits, like "Red Eyes" and "Pain", and intoxicating solos in "Strangest Things". Frontman Adam Granduciel's voice carried throughout the pavilion with a sweet, raspy quality that gave each song an edge of melancholy, while his guitar and the band's rhythm flew the crowd to thrilling highs.

The National took the stage with the most contagious energy of the night. Frontman Matthew Donald Berninger swayed and danced across the stage and into the pit, clasping hands with fans, and pointing at them each as he sang. It was as though he was singing directly to them, making for rare and intimate experiences for concertgoers. Opening with an energetic performance of "Sea Of Love" kept the crowd jumping along with him. Later, his signature rich and honeyed voice inspired longing in songs like "I Need My Girl" and "About Today", and more uptempo but equally thought provoking hits like "Conversation 16" and "Bloodbuzz Ohio". If the first night was any indication of what fans have to look forward to for the remaining dates, this might be the best indie tour of the year.