"Do the hits!" a voice demands of the National, cloaked in darkness and readying themselves for a politically informed, poetically wrought exploration of love and loss. "Dude, these are the hits," replies singer Matt Berninger.

Formed in Ohio in 1999, the band's poplarity has grown steadily since their 2005 major label debut, Alligator. This, their sole UK gig this year, sold out in just three minutes.

A few seconds spent watching Berninger shows why. His intensity is blinding, his presence so physical that it almost obliterates the rest of the band.

Rolling up his grey shirtsleeves, Berninger unleashes his restless spirit. Crooning like Sinatra, shrieking like Black Francis and keen to shush the excitable crowd into silent submission, Berninger's stunning voice is rivalled only by his antics. He agitatedly stalks then leaps off the stage, and runs up the Festival Hall's aisles. Still singing, he cups the faces of awestruck fans.

The National's music has quite a task to live up to its frontman's antics, but it does so with style. Guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner weave chiming guitars through About Today and Fake Empire, while drummer Bryan Devendorf's unexpected rhythms give a dance flavour to Slow Show and a nostalgic waltz feel to new song Vanderlylle. Berninger's impassioned refrain, "I'll explain everything to the geeks" suits a band comprised of former dot.com boomers, and, like new track Runaway, glistens with confidence and the promise of mainstream success.

But it's the encore, Green Gloves, that resonates. Dedicated to film director John Hughes, the requiem for friendship couldn't be a more fitting tribute by a more empathetic band.