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ACL: The Arcade Fire and Muse scene
Sometimes even the privileged have to stand in ridiculously long and unmoving lines. Twenty minutes before Arcade Fire took the AMD stage, more than 200 VIP/artists/all-access wristband wearers waited to get onto the stage viewing area (capacity: 50). — Michael Corcoran
Meanwhile, Matthew Odam reports from the Arcade Fire/Muse showdown:
8:40 p.m.: A much bigger exodus leaving from headliner Muse than there was last night for Bjork. Especially quite a few of the Indigo Girls holdover fans from the previous set at the adjacent stage. Muse, with its lights and video screen, are certainly putting on a headlining worthy show.
8:54 p.m.: Odd: They are driving their fans wild, yet until a few months ago I had never heard of them. It reminds me of ’90s rock played through 21st century instruments, if that makes any sense.
9 p.m.: Who wins when the White Stripes back out? The Arcade Fire, who are losing very few fans to the gates or Muse.
9:04 p.m.: I don’t know if Muse is much bigger than I thought or if it was the printed schedule having Stripes on it or if some people still don’t have the Internet, but the crowd is much bigger and more exacitable at Muse. Maybe it is Radiohead and I just don’t recognize it.
9:14 p.m.: Thousands pouring out from both shows. Slightly more than usual, in my opinion.
(Photo by Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
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Permalink | Comments (20) | Categories: ACL Festival
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By Jeff
September 15, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
We chose Arcade Fire over Muse. Terrible mistake. Arcade Fire was painfully awful. We left during song 3. Damian Rice could have closed over those guys any day.
By Erin
September 16, 2007 12:56 AM | Link to this
I disagree. I caught the last 20 minutes of Muse, and they DO put on an awesome show….but Arcade Fire was true to both albums, and played a beautiful, moving set. The encore was brilliant! They play such different genres of music, I’m glad they were on opposite ends of the park!
By Jeff is Crazy
September 16, 2007 5:05 AM | Link to this
Huh? Perhaps you might prefer the Sippy Cups over at the Austin Kiddie Limits Stage…Jeff.
By eric
September 16, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
Arcade Fire KILLED! I was about 3 rows from the front, and I don’t remember seeing a more moving show. Great live act.
By Jeff IS crazy
September 16, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
The Arcade Fire show last night was not only the best show of the weekend, it was the best show at ACL since day three of 2005. When Arcade Fire played.
By Lindsey
September 16, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
I agree with Erin. Arcade Fire was pretty amazing and Muse is a bit… hmm… not so musically pure.
By Jenni
September 16, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
I chose Muse over Arcade Fire because I remembered them from last year. I couldn’t believe how awesome they were!! The lights and the music and the crowd… I am so glad they defaulted into a headlining position. They came off COMPLETELY worthy.
By jeff is triple crazy
September 16, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
arcade fire was amazing. if you like damien rice in general..well…
By Ethan
September 16, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
Muse all the way, they were amazing. Best live band I tell you.
By Peter
September 16, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Silly argument. Seen both bands multiple times and it was not even a question who I was going to see. Muse is flat out the best live band in the world (Radiohead is my 2nd)
By Thom
September 16, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
Muse absolutely put on the ACL 2007 greatest show.
By Jeff is crazy (x 4)
September 16, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
The Arcade Fire don’t need flashy lights and the “headliner” title to be considered good. I was front row center, and walked away from that show feeling like a different person. Muse might’ve been entertaining, but the Arcade Fire were epic.
By my name is actually jeff
September 17, 2007 12:20 AM | Link to this
arcade fire was epic. no. replace epic with religious. i think i feel closer to the arcade fire than i feel to god.
i was second row, and rocked out way too hard. almost crushed a small mexican woman next to me.
By jason
September 17, 2007 1:44 AM | Link to this
Arcade fire rules.. i’ve seen then 6 times now and it doesn’t get old for me. i couldn’t pry myself away from them to go to Muse.
By Matt
September 17, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Arcade Fire is a really good band, and are brilliant live, but Muse is that much better. I’ve seen both bands live, a number of times, but Muse has much mor eof a presence for just 3 guys. And Matt Bellamy is an amazing guitarist, and a genious pianist.
By Joseph
September 17, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
I felt compelled to write in when I saw the description of Arcade Fire’s performance as “painfully awful”. Ummm….okay. I’ve heard Muse is great live, and I’ll see them at some point, but Arcade Fire’s show blew me away. One of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, and I think are going to become one of the more influential bands of the next decade. Some people may not like them, but to describe them as awful is laughable. The main problem was having them play at the same time as Muse.
By Anton
September 17, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
I also like Arcade Fire but Muse ACL ‘07 visual & musical masterpiece is the “I was there” religious event and it will be remembered as one of the best shows ever.
By Amy
September 17, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
MUSE killed.
Muse awesome ACL set is both stunning & gripping. Matt is an incredible vocalist, guitarist and pianist. A true musical genius. I guess, like what someone said - he is a music god.
By PaJoe
September 18, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Started at Muse and planned on catching Arcade Fire, but couldn’t pull myself away from that awesome show!!! Riveting!! The British are BACK! the whole festival was great but Muse was the highlight for me.
By Barney Gumbel
September 18, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this
Two very different bands, two very different sets of fans. Any bands that can evoke that much emotion in the audience (heard both described as “religious experience) have got to have a whole lot of something going on. I would love to see Arcade Fire someday, but there was no way I was missing Muse. Boo on ACL for scheduling these two epic bands against each other…would have been the exact same dilemma with White Stripes, although Muse made me forget about them.
And to say that Muse is “less than pure” musically is misguided, sanctimonious, and insulting.