Monday, May 21, 2007

Arcade Fire - Chicago Theatre, 5/20/07


That was an experience. For two hours, a wall of sound blanketed and mezmerized the audience. Let me preface, I’ve never seen Arcade Fire before and to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t even name every track they played. That said, the fact that I was completely enthralled with every sight and sound, says something about their shows. As soon as it was over, I wanted to see it again. My friend Pete actually commented during the show that he didn’t know where to focus, and I wholeheartedly agree! No less than ten instruments per song, their stage presence is off-the-charts. I finally decided on Regine Chassange, only because it was like finding Waldo ... you didn't know which instrument she'd be playing from song to song. Keyboards? Drums? Bells? Accordian? That is one multi-talented chick. Also, maybe it's my ignorance, but I was shocked to see what I thought was a chorus of backing voices was her singing through a megaphone!


Something also has to be said about the venue. This was my first show at the Chicago Theatre. Grand, ornate, exquisite. Really adds to the feel. And maybe I'm just used to the tiny venues, but I thought the sound was fantastic ... we actually thought we might be able to hear someone hiccup, it was so crisp! Personally, my favorite song was “Intervention," (one of many spine-tingling moments), though "Rebellion(Lies)" rocked out...it was fun being up in the balcony and scanning a theatre chock-full of happy fans. I took some video but honestly I didn’t feel like listening through a viewfinder and stopped after 42 seconds. I found someone else posted so may as well share theirs, instead!
Here's an approximate setlist:
Wake Up
KTCR
(atb)
Black Mirror
No Cars Go
Haiti
Laika
Intervention
Neon Bible
MBIAC
Windowsill
TWATL
Power Out > Rebellion
---------------
Ocean of Noise
Tunnels

8 comments:

Unknown said...

the chicagoist did a better job of reviewing friday's show so i'll just say, i'm with them. ha!
http://www.chicagoist.com/2007/05/21/divinty_and_hum.php#more

Unknown said...

http://www.chicagoist.com/
2007/05/21/divinty_and_hum.
php#more

tygertyger said...

How were Electrelane?

Unknown said...

Funky ... did you know they dont sing? My friend Pete said they'd make great soundtrack music to a Tarantino film! They were talented, but I guess I didn't know there were no vocals so I was left waiting fo a while! ha.

Unknown said...

btw, Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) was crazy, too! that song just ripped through the place. ok fine, they were all great. no, really...tyger, didn't u see them at lolla once before?

tygertyger said...

Nope, never saw Arcade Fire. Are there two Electrelanes? Because, I have their new disc and they sing on all but one track? That's strange?

Martha Quinn said...

I saw them a couple years ago @ Webster Hall (I think) in NYC. They opened with "Wake Up" and it was so intense that it made everyone take a couple steps back. Final Fantasy and Man Man were the openers (that's where i discovered them both -- both were amazing). All in all, superfantastico!

Unknown said...

mind you, i didn't see electrelane's entire set. but i think for the 3-4 songs i heard, i did not hear vocals. weird!

MQ - that's a good way of puttin' it. "wake up" definitely made me brace myself for the rest of the show!