New song from National's singer references Cincinnati

Matt Berninger's newest band, EL VY, is still connected to his Cincinnati past.

The lead singer of the National and Brent Knopf (best known for work with Menomena and Ramona Falls) released a new single "Return To The Moon," and the upbeat track name-checks a couple of Queen City haunts.

"Don't make me wait for you at the corner of Eden Park," Berninger sings. "Don't make me wait for you at the Serpentine Wall."

Those two lines are repeated as the final lyrics of the song as well.

EL VY's first album, also called "Return To The Moon," will debut Oct. 30. After, the group will launch a tour. So far, there are no stops scheduled in Cincinnati, but concerts planned in Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

The first single has also been warmly received by music critics. NPR's Stephen Thompson's called it "a substantial and intriguing bite – a terrific start for EL VY."

"And, while Berninger's voice and words are instantly recognizable ... 'Return To The Moon' has a sharp, punchy, driving quality that instantly sets it apart from The National's more stately sound," he also writes in a Tuesday post.

Berninger is a Cincinnati native who also attended University of Cincinnati, where he met fellow the National member, Scott Devendorf.

The National performed this March with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as part of the annual MusicNOW Festival. The band's guitarist and composer Bryce Dessner founded the event.

Cincinnati-bred, the National is now based in Brooklyn.