Great, great show last night at Randall's Island. Check back. I'm going to expand this review during the course of the day.
Key impressions:
1. Amazing performance from Arcade Fire. Very easy to forget that they've only released two full-length CDs.
2. The performance was delivered with enormous conviction, enthusiasm and energy.
3. Arcade Fire is earnest to the extreme... if they weren't so good you might make fun of this....but not here.
4. It says pay attention this is important.
5. The instrumentation (French horns, clarinets, violins, bells, accordions, combined with traditional rock and roll instrumentation creates a unique sound. They sound different. That's old news. But their sound is even more unique live.
6. Savvy and sophisticated light show.
7. They need to mix Win Butler's voice up above the band. Very hard to understand the lyrics. And the lyrics are crucial.
8. Best new song: "Intervention." Butler delivered with remarkable insistence.
9. Best old song "Rebellion (Lies)." Shifted to an insistent haunting (even discordant) minor key which never resolved to major as you thought it would. Deep and dark. Blue Lighting. WIn Butler off the stage and stands right at front row as they reach out to touch him. He's huge and towers over them.
Set List (if I got anything wrong in all the excitement, please correct in comments and I'll change)
1. Black Mirror
2. Keep the Car Running
3. Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
4. No Cars Go
5. Haiti
6. I'm Sleeping in a Submarine
7. My Body is a Cage
8. Cold Wind
9. Intervention
10. Antichrist Television Blues
11. The Well and the Lighthouse
12. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
13. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
14. Rebellion (Lies)
Encore:
15. Headlights Look like Diamonds
16. Wake Up
Encore 2:
17. Kiss Off (Violent Femmes)
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Arcade Fire at Randall's Island Review
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2 comments:
Just seen the same tour at Manchester MEN Arena (UK) - completely awesome. Agree about level of the vocals - you had to know the lyrics to get the most from it. But the show and the sound and the energy were compelling. True artists. Band of the decade so far.
I can't get enough of the Arcade Fire. I think I've fallen in love with the first violin(ist).
You can't help but love Regine and Win is legit! He is the real deal.
As for all the other members of the Arcade Fire, including Win's brother, they are all in a league of their own. It's all good stuff, and they know how to perform it.
"I play so hard that sometimes I feel like I’m going to barf." Who said that? If you answered Sarah Neufeld, you are right.
Congratulations,
Tommy D_____
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