The Arcade Fire

So, I had 2 tickets to The Arcade Fire, and since Naomi couldn't go I looked on Craig's list and found someone who was looking to buy a ticket for the show. Long story short, I met up with Angel who bought my other ticket and that turned out to be a great bit of luck since she is just a blast, real fun. We missed opening acts (didn't look like missing much) then went into the show, fortified with some alcohol... unfortunately we were kind of jammed in the back but it wasn't too bad, Troubadour is not that big.

I can say that The Arcade Fire is unlike anyone I've seen before (granted not saying a lot) 8 members on stage pretty much all dressed up, they looked like a travelling show of another era, a big canvas curtain behind them would have suited them well. The energy from the stage was amazing, even the 2 violinists (Owen Pallett & Sarah Neufeld) who couldn't really move around much presented you with an intensity that equated to energy. The fact that every band member besides Owen and Sarah switched off instruments just furthered the picture of a group of travelling entertainers and not a typical "rock band".

I am not adept at describing music, but their sound is wonderfully diverse, accompanied by Win's hoarse yet soaring voice or Regine's sweet high voice. All of their songs sounded great, but I think I may have been most impressed by Rebellion (lies) a steady beat of energy that just kept building. Their new song, Intervention is great (Angel described it right away as Symphonic Tom Petty). Their CD should be listened to a couple of times before any real opinion is formed... to really delve into it. But to experince them live is something else again.

I lvoed them so much I went back Sunday, and I watched the opening act and was quite happy I did. Owen was the opener playing as Final Fantasy, just him and his violin. He would loop notes and the timing and variations he used as he played over them was fascinating. To see an LA crowd keep quiet and give big ovations to an opener is pretty amazing.

Read the pro reviewers and check out the CD.. damn good stuff