It’s hard to make a memory at a festival like this, to cut through the din, the heat, the corporate branding, to seize people’s attention and manufacture a genuine moment. Occasionally sets transcend setting; more often they’re the wallpaper of a weekend’s memories. There are a few ways to try and affect a positive result on the memorability front, though. Like, play a fun cover (as when Spoon covered Wolf Parade’s “The Modern World,” though they do that often), or spend $150,000 on your stage (ala Gaga). Or just be Arcade Fire. Last week, the band received its official coronation at Madison Square Garden, an indie troupe that always belonged on the world stage, seizing it with no reservation and a side of Terry Gilliam. It was triumphant, or at least so we heard; while you guys were on Vevo, we were at the Vic, seeing Soundgarden lay waste to Chicago’s Vic Theatre, which cleared the way for us to spend the last hours of this year’s Lollapalooza with one of our first Bands To Watch. And that’s what they were Sunday, as they always have been. Doing it with tens of thousands last night felt full of both inevitability and emotion. The Funeral songs have always wanted a crowd this large, and they resonated most deeply. “Crown Of Love” was dedicated to “our good friends in the National,” who had just finished a set across at the adjacent Playstation Stage and used to chide Arcade Fire for not playing that song enough; Grant Park erupted into the wave, a spontaneous and goosepimply moment that heightened the drama, tightened the air for the last half of Lolla’s most memorable set. “Rococo”‘s strains ricocheted around the park, Regine spun to the “Sprawl II.” Win thanked the crowd for having such energy at the festival’s end. Yes, it was memorable; a band and their fans both wanting, and properly prepared for, an epic moment. You saw the YouTube from MSG, you know they’re ready for your arenas. Let it be known they’re ready to headline all your festivals, too. This is a good week for Arcade Fire, just like it is for anyone who loves them. And they made for a beautiful end to a long Lolla weekend.
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IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!
it was impossible not to cry when everyone put their hands up simultaneously during the first refrain in “Wake Up”. I will never forget that.
True that.
Power Out transitioning into Rebellion, Wake Up…obviously highlights. But I never would have guessed Laika (second song they played) would pack such a punch or send the crowd up front into an absolute frenzy. Awesome moment.
I was as pleasantly surprised as the band was that so many people were singing along to the new songs.
… My favorite was when he mentioned they were so nervous about performing the new stuff in front of all those people… My girlfriend and I looked at each other like, “Really?” Yes, an absolute amazing performance and very well received by everyone in Chicago.. what an amazing night….
Was hard to choose between them and Soundgarden. Hadn’t previously heard of either, they both sounded cool, I just barely went for Soundgarden. Well, catch Arcade Fire some other time, then.
One of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Non-stop energy from start to finish. Wonderful.
One of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Non-stop energy and emotion from start to finish. Wonderful.
If this performance was anything like the songs I saw/heard on Youtube from the MSG show, I’m sure it was amazing.
Sounds like this was an amazing performance. You should check out their “Take Away Show” on this site….they perform an awesome version of “Neon Bible” in a freight elevator :)
http://www.ourstage.com/blog/2010/8/12/viewer-discretion-advised-la-blogotheque-the-take-away-shows