The National welcomes David Letterman back to ‘Late Show’

Earlier this year, Letterman praised The National during a conversation about music, calling them “your saddest friend’s favorite band.”

Before the band’s performance, Letterman told host Stephen Colbert on Monday that this was “the second time in my life that this has happened here tonight,” referring to the Foo Fighters‘appearance in his final episode of the late show. When the question of musical guests came up for Monday’s episode, Letterman said he had suggested The National but learned they were on tour. He was later informed that the band would be going on tour to appear on the long-awaited comeback. “Because for a band, TV money is actually more interesting,” the comedian joked before adding, “That touched me so much.”

He then gave a “tip of the hat” to the Foo Fighters, who “went way, way, way out of their way” to say goodbye to him from the CBS show in 2015. “So those two groups, I’ll love them forever.” Letterman said.