Friday night was a strange night. I had been in a strange state of excitement for days; I like this band so much I was so scared to be disappointed…
I had missed the pre-sale, thought it was sold out, just to find out there were still tickets. I bought two, even though I did not know any people in my circle friends that caught the The Arcade Fire-bug… but thank God for Bram.
Bram is the friend that came to Paris to catch the 2002 ONA shows when I still lived in Paris. When I bought the tickets at the music store he works at, he told me he really liked the album. So I just informed him my spare ticket was for him and then he went and bought a ticket for his brother in law too.

The evening started out stranger than strange, with me being witness to a weird accident, involving a speeding car veering off the road right in front of me, missing me by a metre or so… I had to wait for the police, give a statement and of course I arrived way to late to meet Bram in front of the venue.
I found a line that ended up on Leidseplein, a square 200 metres away from the venue; I never saw a line that long for a concert at the Milkyway. I joined the line, met a really nice guy whom I talked with about music and then we were in.

The Milkyway is a small place, but I love it, as it is the place where I saw some of the most amazing concerts ever, including Björk. The fella I met in the line and I split so I could locate Bram. I located them in like a second, the place being so small and I know Bram; he likes places where he can look at the stage and take it all in. Normally I would like to be somewhat closer up to the stage, but I liked spending time with Bram too, so I joined him on the balcony where indeed we had a perfect view over most of the stage.

The entire place was buzzing, just like it had been when Björk played the venue. The lights dimmed and the band came on. It is silly, but I do not know all the names of the band members, as I am more inclined to listen to the lyrics and the music and concentrate on that instead of reading up on where they come from etc.
I know the two lead vocalists, a man and a woman, are married and the brother of the singer is in the band too, but besides the two lead vocalists I could not identify any of them by name.

The band consists of the lead singer Win Butler playing mostly guitar, his wife Régine Chassagne, also lead singer, playing keyboards and harmonica mostly, a drummer, a bass player, a girl who plays violin and cello, and a guy that I think played everything, besides the drums. Another guy just hops around and plays the tambourine. And he also had the habit to use everything as a drum. Most band members sing or scream along.

The band started with two of their most energetic songs, Wake Up and Neighborhood #2 (Laika)in which they first introduced the audience to their energetic presence. The band is enthusiastic and seems to overflow with energy, but somehow this does not irritate or confuse, like it might with any other artist.
These first two songs seemed to function as a sort of outlet for the first bundle of energy, which immediately got the audience’s attention. Often Amsterdam audiences are somewhat lazy and more interested in listening than dancing along, but the reaction of standing still during the first two songs was just because the audience was a little stunned about all the energy.

It also might have something have to do with the red haired multi-instrumentalist wearing a helm and the last band member I described playing his head like a drum.

Then the band took a step down and performed a set of songs that was somewhat less energetic, but still captivated the audience. No Cars Go, one of my favorites of their self titled EP was followed by Haïti, where Régine took the lead vocals.

Around this song my normal senses went into overload and I just started enjoying without paying too much notice to details. What stood out was the fact that after almost every song, one or more band member switched instruments, that their style of performing is rather theatrical, earning them their Talking Heads comparisons and that they band was able to captivate not only me, but the entire audience.
Also, their way of harmonizing, blending their background vocals into separate melodies is something that just blows my mind.

What followed was a performance that just blew me away. Maybe it is because this album has been the soundtrack to my life from the moment it found it’s way into my possession, but when the band closed with what I think is my favorite Arcade Fire track, the hauntingly beautiful In The Backseat, the performance, in combination with that song, it triggered emotions in me that moved me to tears. Régine Chassagne’s voice, her lyrics. Wow. She has found a highway to my heart with that song.

The end of the concert was special too, but that I will not share, as some of you might want to see this band live too and I do not want to take anything away from the experience.

Somewhere during the performance, I turned around to Bram, just to raise my eyebrow in an arching ‘well?’. He just said that this was amazing and I understood him. When I got home I wanted to write a review and could not find the right words. I still have not, but I wanted to share this with you anyway. If you have the chance to see this band; please go and see them. If you do not have the album, please give it a spin. I know it will not be to every one’s liking. But to me this band is quickly becoming my new favorite band…

The setlist;
Wake Up
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haïti
Old Flame
My Heart is an Apple
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Une Année Sans Lumière
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)

Encore:
Crown of Love
In The Backseat

thanks for the review...cant wait to see them live in may.

Nice review. Thanks for sharing.

I guess I'd better get off it and get this album, eh?

endorphin74 said:

What can I say? I can't make you like them...

I can just tell you what kind of impact this band's music has on my life. Where Franz Ferdinand made me dance, this band makes me cry. And smile at the same time. Their music is at times as confused as I feel.

No Cars Go

We know a place where no planes go
We know a place where no ships go

(Hey!) No cars go
(Hey!) No cars go
Where we know

We know a place no space ships go
We know a place where no subs go

(Hey!) No cars go
(Hey!) No cars go
Where we know

(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Cars go!)

(Hey!) Us kids know
(Hey!) No cars go
Where we know

Between the click of the light and the start of the dream
Between the click of the light and the start of the dream
Between the click of the light and the start of the dream
Between the click of the light and the start of the dream

I don’t want any pushing, and I don’t want any shoving.
We’re gonna do this in an orderly manner.
Women and children!
Women and children!
Women and children, let’s go!
Old folks, let’s go!
Babies needing cribs, let’s go!