Arcade Fire
Date: April 24, 2005 Lightning Bolts A-Glowin' Although the massive hype surrounding Arcade Fire surely raised extreme expectations for a series of hometown concerts, I would be amazed if anyone left the Corona Theatre feeling that those expectations were unfulfilled. Arcade Fire attacked the stage on Sunday night with a ferocity equal to the best live bands that I have ever seen; and the result was an absolutely stellar concert. The first segment of the night was taken by Final Fantasy, the stage name of Arcade Fire contributor Owen Pallett. Pallett's solo set of violin and vocals made heavy use of looping, to fine effect. After playing a portion of a song, Pallett would loop a recording of that sequence while moving to play the next component. After several passes, he would be playing over a very full arrangement, simultaneously providing his own lead, accompaniment, and vocals. While some of the lyrics and stage banter were awkward, the overall effect was quite interesting, even without the Mariah Carey "Fantasy" cover that found a way into subsequent shows. Montreal outfit Wolf Parade were also awkward with their stage banter, repeatedly declaring their unprofessionalism during a few slow transitions. When they were on, though, they came through with energetic playing and a diverse collection of songs. I could also refer to Arcade Fire's showcase as energetic, but only if I wished to commit a gross understatement. The nine-piece band opened with "Wake Up," which set a blistering tone for the night. Although the richness of the sound was certainly notable, most striking was the fierceness exhibited by every band member. The passion in Win Butler's vocals is undoubtedly impressive but it was equaled by the force that everyone else on stage put into the chorus backing him, whether situated near a mic or not. When the string section is yelling at their top of their lungs like punk frontmen, you know that it's going to be a good night. The shifting dynamics in that opening number were also typical in an affair that saw band members leaping over each other to swap instruments. Guitars, drums, bass, violins, keyboards, accordion, upright bass, xylophone, harp, French horn, and various percussion instruments were included in the mix. Some of the best moments of the concert, though, came from band members filling idle time. Something interesting could always be seen, be it subtle, such as Pallett advancing his violin bow like a clock hand, or flamboyant, such as the battle between Reed Parry and Timothy Kingsbury, who attacked each other with drumsticks, a cymbal stand, and a flag. Throughout the mayhem, the music never lost a step. If any flaws were to be found in the night, they were invisible amidst the explosiveness of the playing, making it difficult to name particular highlights. Almost all of Funeral was represented, along with a few songs from the band's first EP, a traditional cover ("Brazil"), and an unreleased track ("Cars and Telephones"). If pressed to list a few standouts, I would have to mention "Haiti," which served as a reminder that the band's run of Montreal and Toronto shows were benefits for a Haitian charity, and the segment that closed the set: "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)," "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)," and "Rebellion (Lies)." Arcade Fire's second night at the Corona Theatre more than justified their many accolades, proving them to be one of the best live acts that I have been fortunate enough to witness. Arcade Fire setlist Main Set
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