Arcade Fire

[EverythingChanges]

I really really wish I could get into this band, but I am surprised to hear that someone here thinks they're better than MMJ live. I guess I should see em?

Wake Up is one of the best live songs ever IMO.  I saw them earlier this year; definitely one of the best shows I have seen.  I still think MMJ puts on the better show though.  They are more unpredictable with setlist changes etc.

[Murph]

Yea I'll agree. When I saw them a few years back at MSG, it was an absolutely incredible show. I'm a fan though and have loved every album

[rincon2]

I will admit the audio in the second song is a little messed up, but this was the anticipated highlight of the show. The big hit on the new album. I'm sorry, but this is like a SNL skit about a semi-talented bunch of narcissists. With a few exceptions, notably first two songs from the Suburbs, which was great, this was how the whole friggen show was. To compare this to MMJ on their own board baffles me hard. More like Thompson Twins 2014.

http://youtu.be/mPgIf7o9Fwc?t=5s

[Jaimoe]

First off, I hope you enjoy the show. I have a strong feeling it will be very different from your past experience seeing them. Second, I never said they used tapes, I said if they did I could not tell, because the whole show could have been. It sounded like the music inside a club, half trance/half disco, with little separation of instruments. A few songs were pretty good, but Reflektor, which I like, and even liked the video, was soulless backbeat with some vocals. If you like guitar rock, even though you see a few guys holding them, don't expect to hear them much. Without being sarcastic, I would like to hear your reaction from the show you go to, even if you think my opinion is completely BS.
(90 bucks for 100 minutes of AF. Wiltern 2012 100bucks for 7.5 hours of MMJ over 3 nights)

Nope, I don't find your opinion BS. I'm mulling over writing a review of the concert, but I'll let you know what I think regardless.

Also, MMJ and AF are comparable only in that both write anthemic great songs and are topnotch live bands with charasmatic leaders. Their styles are quite a bit different, sonically and conceptually, but that's ok with me. 

[Jaimoe]

I had no time for this, but I threw together a bloggy review thingy anyway regarding Friday's show.

Arcade Fire @ Molson Amphitheatre Toronto, August 29, 2014

Arcade Fire put on a fairly fiery show at the Molson Amphitheatre on Friday night, the Montreal arty indie rock superstar's second Toronto concert in 2014 in support of their bestselling Reflektor LP. The atmosphere in the outdoor stadium was fun and the capacity crowd was loud and clearly ready to rock. It was not as electric as the last time I saw the ensemble at Toronto's legendary Massey Hall during the Neon Bible tour; however, it was as good as a rock show can get at the sometimes cavernous venue. Fans were on their feet for the entire 100-minute gig, singing along and dancing to anthem after anthem, with many dressed up for the occasion (band leader Win Butler challenged audiences on this tour to come to concerts in disco-themed costumes or formal attire; I wore a nice black mod suit and tie). Speaking of costumes, the thousands that chose to play dress-up certainly added to the overall concert experience. Perhaps by being included in the production, fans' collectively seemed to focus their eyes mostly toward the stage instead of the constant need to chatter and text, both annoyances plague far too many concerts nowaday. On an aside, although some did on this tour, I have no issues with the theatrical nature of the concert, including giant fake heads atop would-be band members miming two songs (one by Teenage Head), costumed crowd members, or the often overcrowded stage. The frenzied madness worked. 

The flow of the set list was excellent, interwoven with old and new songs, all sounding more or less inspired (I must preface that the venue's sound-system didn't do anyone any favours: it was tinny for the first few songs, but evolved, thankfully, into more punchy by the night's fifth track, a memorable "Suburbs". I asked my friends about sound quality up on the lawns, and even there it wasn't great, which it usually is. My wife also thought Win and company looked a little drained during the set's beginning numbers including Funeral hit "Rebellion (Lies)" and Reflektor standout "Joan of Arc, but this was the group's second last gig of their long tour, so it can be expected. I didn't notice any fatigue anyway.

Although I love their folkier songs such as Régine Chassagne's Reflektor showcase "Empty Room", Arcade Fire's biggest weapon is unleashing uniquely powerful, swelling anthems fuelled by vocals, lyrics, and band synergy, more than relying on the tried-and-true power-chords, jams, and stage antics (they clearly have been influenced by David Bowie; for example, check out the rock legend's slow tension-build masterpiece "Heroes"). Even their choice of a local cover song was pretty darn anthemic: Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks' rockabilly version of "Who Do You Love". Their rendition sounded early 1960s authentic, which no doubt would put a smile on The Hawk's face. [Note: Arcade Fire have been doing a cover song by a local artist from every city they happen to be performing in, and Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks are Toronto area legends, even more Hawk's backup group since his Hawks went on to become The Band].

The final tune was the truly awesome and emotional Funeral epic "Wake Up", which had fans singing along before heading home - or continuing the party via the nearby Canadian National Exhibition Fairgrounds - riding on a high.

A funny personal footnote: Am I nuts in thinking Win's band mate and brother William looks like a weird cross between Win and 80s sitcom oddball JM J Bullock from Too Close For Comfort?