My 2 Cents: Arcade Fire 9/10 @ Salsatheque, Montreal
I think it's important, for me at least, to acknowledge that I realize how lucky I am to even be writing about the show I saw Tuesday night. I woke up Monday morning in Burlington, VT- eagerly anticipating my post-work travels to Pure Pop in hopes of snagging a copy of the single, listening on repeat until I likely broke my record player. That is not how my Monday day ended. Rather, while trying to calm my nerves for my most important work presentation to date: I decided to check facebook and was welcomed by an arcadefiretube notification that rocked my damn world (thank you, Joel :D )!!! Forget the presentation: I was instantly thinking how the hell do I get out of work early and get my ass to Montreal in a costume/formal wear? I spent my lunch break running home to raid my closet and snatching the only formal wear I could find... Unfortunately, I couldn't get out of work early, but my friend and I were committed to give this show a shot... and holy shit, it was worth it.
We got to Montreal by 7pm, and the line was already longer than the eventual 300 tickets that were issued. We watched as Cary Tauben hand-selected the best-dressed, which I absolutely have no ill feelings about (only that I didn't have an opportunity to put more thought/time into my own outfit!), when it became clear that Monday night's 100 tickets were already sold out. Not much later we decided to plead our case to the AF entourage toting the golden tickets (or rather neon wristbands). Turns out, they had a a soft spot for 2 Vermont girls hastily driving up from work and, after polite begging, we ended with neon-green wristbands for show #2!!!
While driving back to VT Monday night, bracelets affixed, the anticipation only became that much more real: I was going to see Arcade Fire perform brand new music most of THE WORLD had never heard. When we arrived back at Salsatheque Tuesday night, the spectacle that snaked the city curbs Monday had since subsided and our neon wigs and sequin-embellished attire was even more out of place... I couldn't help grinning thinking about the secret I was in on! As 9pm neared, those on the list were being admitted (consistent with night 1) and papier mâché Richard came out to greet those of us waiting outside... It was clear he was not a body double ;) and my friend and I were lucky enough to follow him up the stairwell into the club while a camera man filmed the entire ascent. sooo cool. I still hadn't heard a lick of new music at that point, and I was already grinning ear-to-ear! This is a band that understands experience, with no detail going unnoticed, and my experience was unlike anything I could have dreamed of.
It wasn't a long wait for showtime once we were scrunched in the tiny reflektive & neon venue ... one bonehead in line (not in costume/dress on day 2, which still pisses me off) actually asked if there would be an opening act/any other bands. I think my jaw dropped to the floor... needless to say, there was no opening act, just The Reflektors simply making their way to the stage THROUGH the crowd. While I watched a few members enter to my right, I stood agog, only to have Will politely tap me on my shoulder to get through on the other side. Holy shit.
I still have no idea how long the band played, I don't know how many songs were actually performed because I was sooooo entrenched. The first song was amazing- and the title is likely something like Here Comes the Night/Nighttime...I remember there being distinct tempo changes like many of their songs, but in a Rasta/Jimmy Buffet/Caribbean feel. The 2 percussionists (possibly Haitian?) were a great addition to the live set. This song definitely set the tone for the rhythmic qualities that would come through the rest of the show and continually urge viewers to do more than watch and listen, but to dance! At one point Win made a comment that a specific song made use of 3 guitars (something along these lines, as I'm not an expert musician), and what immediately followed sounded so much like Michael Jackson I about had a conniption. I literally did a double-take and thought it could have been a cover of some MJ track... it wasn't.
I was so consumed with joy it made memorizing any lyrics difficult; however, they performed a song that very clearly had lyrics including/relating to Joan of Arc. It wasn't my favorite song of the night, but with most AF work, understanding or finding meanings of lyrics drives affinity... which is tough to do on a first listen :) Another song that I particularly liked had lyrics regarding "normal" people/had Win questioning if he was normal... I was pretty mesmerized by this number and look forward to hearing it in detail. One of my favorite parts of watching an AF show is that at any point you can enjoy watching ANYONE in the band on stage and be mesmerized. They each have an individual style that is so fun! Win, however, was the center of this song. Definitely a favorite for me.
While I have no notes... I vividly remember the heavy bluesy, muddy song that was AMAZING. Every AF show incorporates an almost story-like cathartic arc, and this song slowed the show down a bit. Still it allowed me to feel the music in my damn bones. I've never been a huge fan of blues, but I think what this song evoked in me is what that kind of music is for... murky, feel it deep down in your soul shit. Who the hell knows... but I think they nailed this. As for the night as a whole- there is one thing that AF clearly knows how to do: drop a beat. Yesterday marked my 9th (Crazy weird, right?!?!) AF show, and I will be the first to admit I am a sucker for the epic stadium-moving songs (I need not name them here). Even with the stylistic evolution, the band has kept at the core the ability to perform the shit out of the songs live. In nearly every song, the vast majority of the crowd was singing along (when possible), clapping, dancing, hopping, you name it. I've never gone to an AF show to stand and nod my head, and Tuesday's show was no different. The band closed with Reflektor, as announced by Win when he tapped his corona with the mic. If you can imagine, the song is even better live! There was a steady build to the chorus that ended up being so intense, the near 8 minutes of music was nothing short of epic... everyone was dancing and singing - only reaffirming my love for this band!
As they did the first night, the band ended as Win announced, only to be followed by them hanging out in the bar/dance floor among the fans- enjoying beers, signing autographs, and dancing the night away. Even if Arcade Fire hadn't named their epic closing number to last night's show Reflektor, any "review" of a show after a nearly 2 year hiatus would include reflection and, as always, a sense of wonderment. There were subtle changes in styling throughout the show, with very clear musical influences. As I forced myself down the stairs to return to Vermont, I couldn't help thinking of the drastic changes the band had made, yet one thing couldn't have been more clear: this band wasn't the Reflektors as billed, this was Arcade Fire.
My signed Reflektor single... only missing Regine (sadly she was absent at the end of the show)
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