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ACL: Arcade Fire review
“Arcade!” chanted half the crowd, while the other half added “Fi-ya!” It’s hard to imagine a band better suited to headline a night at ACL then Montreal’s majestic, rhythmic collective Arcade Fire. With six enormous neon pipe cleaners dividing the 10 or 11 players onstage (it’s hard to get an accurate count because there were so many arms flailing all at once), the band was gloriously hypnotic at times, but just as biting, as on the bleak song dedicated to “Governor George Bush.”
Singer Win Butler’s sprawling songs drew wild syncopation, especially from keyboardist Richard Parry, who crashed a cymbal, a motorcycle helmet, whatever he could smack around, when he was overcome by the rolling beat. Multi-instrumentalist Regine Chassagne was a focal point onstage, often acting out lyrics (a tad pretentious) as were the two violinists, so deep in musical communication.
This tribal avant garde group was so into it that it was as if White Stripes were on the other end of the park and the Canadians had something to prove. After each herky jerky symphony, the emotionally, physically spent band would take about a minute to decompress.
Even though the volume level could’ve been stronger, A. Fire was powerful, whether they were doing their pounding Eno bit art rock on “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)” or bringing Appalachia to Arcadia on the infectious “Keep the Car Running” from the new, second album “Neon Bible.” Three young women next to me were having a near-religious experience during that latter number. They represented the committed element of the crowd. Just as many seemed to be merely curious; it was strange to see so many folks filing out during “Neighborhood 3- Power Out” at the one hour point of what could be the best set anyone plays at ACL this weekend.
But it had been a long and hot day and it was time to go home. Power out.
Arcade! Fi-ya! Arcade! Fi-ya! The chants went on for several minutes after the too-short 80-minute set.
(Photo by Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: ACL Festival
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By Barney Gumbel
September 16, 2007 1:03 AM | Link to this
NO ONE left Muse early.
By Brent
September 16, 2007 3:48 AM | Link to this
Omg! I was at that show…right up at the very front, smashed into so many sweaty people jumping and singing. Incredible!!!! The best set of the weekend, by far! “Intervention”! Breathtaking!
By woukachaka
September 16, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I’m pretty sure I saw about 5000 people leave Muse early…
By AC
September 16, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
Thousands of people left Arcade Fire after 3 songs then moved to MUSE because they could not hear anything at AF show.
By Brently
September 17, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this
Arcade Fire were great! They played awesome! They deserved more playing time!
By Casey
September 17, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
An absolutely amazing show! They had tons of energy and the crowd loved it. I can’t wait to see them again. My favorite show of the weekend hands down.
By Cassie
September 17, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
I was at Arcade Fire and I could hear them just fine. They were awesome. The best show of the weekend for me.
By alloverthemap
September 26, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
Just saw this wonderful band Monday in Seattle. As a veteran progressive rock fan, with roots going back to Klaatu, Godley & Creme, Saga and Crack the Sky, I don’t hesitate to put Arcade Fire’s “Funeral” in the top five debut albums of all time (with those other four acts sewing up the remaining slots).
“Neon Bible” takes some getting used to, but once the taste is acquired, it’s not far-fetched to make comparisons to “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.”
Yes these guys (and gals) rock. But what is really energizing is the way they transfer their deeply-felt thoughts into emotionally-draining anthems.
Just two albums and so many songs that bring the house down! A conundrum for a live act, which must pay attention to niceties like pacing on behalf of its audience. But with such a high proportion of stellar material to turn to, a song like “No Cars Go” (encore material, you’d think), gets wedged in as the no. 4 song of the evening.
God I love this band.