Date: 09/05/05
Rating:
It's rare that a band could sell out a venue the size of the Astoria without having made a dent on the charts with their debut album, but when you're discussing Arcade Fire, anything really is possible.
Their rise has been nothing less than meteoric; arriving from nowhere to become the critics' darlings in next to no time, and on the final date of their UK tour, the Canadian band treated an enthusiastic crowd to something truly special. I defy anyone present to forget this night in a hurry. Any doubts about whether the band can repeat the magic of 'Funeral' to a live setting were dismissed immediately.
Arcade Fire have a distinct stage presence; they're dressed as if they're from Victorian Britain, and all band members are multi-instrumentalists, changing roles from track to track. For instance, Régine Chassagne alternated from drums to keyboards to xylophone effortlessly, whilst also singing the final track 'Backseat' with great passion and emotion (her vocals are a dead ringer for Bjork's), and her husband, Win Butler, the front man, held the audience in the palm of his band all evening.
Arcade Fire have a rare gift of making beautiful and sanguine music that deeply affects those who have the pleasure of hearing it, and the live performance brings out the band's collective genius. It's simply not possible to witness the band perform the likes of 'Wake Up' and 'Rebellion (Lies)', and not feel something. Arcade Fire are a genuinely extraordinary band; hyperboles are the only adjectives you can use to do them justice. Let's hope they return soon!
Clickmusic
Arcade Fire Official Site
Merge Records
Rough Trade Records
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