I’m sitting here watching a video, taped off of French television (Canal+) and downloaded from my favorite BitTorrent site, of one of my top five favorite bands of all time, the Arcade Fire. I’m completely amazed every time I have the good fortune to listen, watch, or experience what this musical collective has been able to produce. This performance was filmed early in 2007, at the very beginning of their Neon Bible tour to promote their album of the same name. I know all the songs they are playing. I’ve listened to them hundreds of times. But every time, I can’t help but become enchanted by the music and the energy that is so apparent, even through a gray box with digital images streaming across it.
I’ve seen a lot of live music in my relatively short life. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some pretty great live acts. Only two bands have ever left me speechless. Phish and Arcade Fire. The difference in my mind? Phish usually leaves me speechless. Aracde Fire ALWAYS leaves me breathless. Even videos. Now, the last thing I want to do is imply anything even bordering on negative about Phish. That’s not my point. My point is this: Arcade Fire is the greatest live act I’ve ever seen. The energy this band exudes while on stage is overwhelming.
I saw them in 2005 at the Vegoose music festival in Las Vegas. I had never heard their music before. I skipped a band I was actually looking forward to seeing in order to see this band (that’s the beauty of music festivals). I had no idea what was about to happen to me. This music that came booming from this stage in the desert was nothing short of astonishing. During their hour and a half set, I was taken on an emotional roller coaster from the highest of highs to sitting on the ground with tears streaming down my face. All the while this band was running around the stage, switching instruments and banging scaffolding with drum sticks. After their set ended, my friend and I were the last two people in the field (except for a girl who had a broken foot and couldn’t really move to easily). Apparently there was another band playing (one of the headliners, Widespread Panic, maybe?). I didn’t notice. Or care. I was basking.
I saw them again spring of 2007 in Atlanta. A very different music scene awaited me at this show. The crowd was a lot younger than it was in Vegas. There was a lot more black clothing and “indie” sensibility (whatever that means), but the excitement level was so much higher. These people were there for just one reason, not a whole festival of reasons. The venue was a real music venue, not a stage in a grassed-over parking lot. This time around the band was clearly much more confident in themselves and their music. They had a new album that had debuted at #2 on the US Billboard charts. They had a bigger stage show. Cooler lights. Video projectors. But when it came down to the show, nothing had really changed. The energy was better than ever. The music was fantastic. They built their show perfectly. Started slow and worked their way into a frenzy. The next thing I knew I was catching my breath in the warm southern night, unable to describe what had just happened to my friend I was with, totally shocked that I was seriously considering what I had just seen to a Phish show.What’s my point in all of this? Well, go see this band if you can.
Their music is extremely powerful and can resonate deeply. It’s an experience on par with the great rock and roll acts ever.
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