After the huge success of their Dark Was The Night compilation for AIDS charity Red Hot back in 2009, The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner now have plans for another charitable record.
The band's bassist Scott Devendorf told Spinner that the boys are hoping to rope in some top musicians for a Grateful Dead tribute album. He admitted that The National themselves would feature on the record and that bands such as Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver had already expressed an interest in the project.
"We're just figuring that out right now. Matt [Berninger] has got to sing it, so we're thinking a Phil [Lesh] song, 'Box of Rain' or 'Unbroken Chain,' something like that. For us, the frontrunner right now is 'Box of Rain' I think, but we'll see."
"I think Steve Reich is on it as far as doing some things. He's actually an old friend of Phil Lesh. They go back to younger days. Then there are newer, folky bands like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver that are interested."
"It's not going to be like jam bands cover the Dead", Devendorf continued. "There are so many cover bands. I think half of the record will be reinterpreting it. We're also trying to think of unusual [acts]. Crystal Castles would be awesome."
The band's management have since confirmed that the Dessners are working on a follow up to 'Dark Was The Night' but declined to confirm any details.