Live Review: Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire

Live Review: Arcade Fire, Wednesday, August 11, 2010, Verizon Amphitheater, Alpharetta, Ga.
by: Manu Muraro

Driving 50 minutes outside of the city of Atlanta to go to a show didn’t seem too appealing at first. But getting there to the sound of Spoon, on their last show supporting Arcade Fire on tour, was already pretty great.

As always, Spoon put on a solid show, with the lighting as bold and powerful as their characteristic guitar/piano/voice combo.

Then, after the fastest stage prep I’ve ever seen between shows, out comes Arcade Fire.

Husband and wife duo Win Butler and Régine Chassagne and company were once again in rare form while switching between guitars, drums, mandolin, bass, piano, violin, cello, xylophone, keyboard, horns, accordion, harp and probably also banging on some stuff they found on the way there.

They opened the show with the great new song “Ready To Start” followed by nothing less than “Neighborhood #2 ((Laika)”. From then on it was the set-list any fan could have wished for.

They were not so worried to play all the new songs to promote their third album, The Suburbs, but rather play all their best songs from all three albums. That meant lots of songs from their first album, Funeral, ranging from the beautiful “Haiti” – in which Chassagne shines on vocals – to the electrifying “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)”.

During the latter, the venue felt like a dance club in a sauna in the Atlanta summer weather.

“I don’t know about you, but we’re digging this weather”, said a very sweaty Butler.

Many “Neighborhoods” later, a few hand picked Neon Bible tracks, and some great new songs from their latest album the sweaty crowd was sent home very satisfied after a chorus that included the anthem “Wake Up”.

Definitely one of the best shows of the year. And most definitely worth the drive.

Editor’s Note: Manu Muraro is a contributor to this site. You can follow her on Twitter @manumuraro.