The National were picked to perform at New York Magazine’s fortieth anniversary party, and the guys delivered a special performance: a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On” (from the band’s underrated 1969 album, The Velvet Underground). The National are a good pick to do a cover of the less-abrasive side of the Velvet Underground: Matt Berninger’s husky voice recalls Lou Reed’s vocals circa 1969, and the band’s ability to pull off a dark undertow to songs on their own records is put to good use here. [Stereogum]