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The National Take a Beer-Binging Beating in ‘Graceless’ Video

The national graceless video

On record, the National may come across like a group of sad bastards who’d rather discuss NPR and fine cheese than go out and have an good, old-fashioned time. In concert, they’re a bit looser, led by frontman Matt Berninger’s deadpan sarcasm and wine-fueled forays into the audience. It’s the latter spirit that colors their new video for the Trouble Will Find Me cut “Graceless.” Shot in Berninger’s parents’ Cincinnati house, the black-and-whte clip finds the quintet chugging an impressive amount of beer, riding bikes into a pool, shooting off a potato gun, going all out on a Slip ‘n Slide, and other such tomfoolery.

The band took quite a beating during these stunts, Berninger recently told Rolling Stone. Bassist Scott Devendorf ended up with a minor concussion, guitarist Bryce Dessner injured his back, and Berninger busted up his face while riding the bike into the pool. “I had glasses on, I had bruises around my eyes where the glasses hit. It was the most brutal video we’ve ever done,” he said. “It was really fun, but it cost us. No one died, though.” Not bad for a band of dads.