Jeff_I's Blog

"Us Kids Know..."

That's a line from an Arcade Fire song, but it's so much more. It is the essence of being an Arcade Fire fan.

For more times than I care to admit, the response I got from people I told I was going to see the Arcade Fire, the answer was, "Who?" But that's OK, because us kids know...

Us kids know that the planet's most original, most unique, most on top of their game performers are coming to town. And us kids know that we sure aren't going to miss it.

For one humid evening in Boston, Montreal's finest put on a show for us kids. And us kids left smiling (albeit sweaty).

It's easy to be disappointed at a show like this. Plenty of times your hopes get higher than a band's ability and you walk out saying, "Well, that was good. But it wasn't that good." Tonight, wasn't one of those nights. The friends I went with, 3 of whom had never seen the band before, had to have had some of the loftiest expectations. They could blame me, for constantly babbling about their imminent brush with musical greatness, but fortunately, no one was to blame because all expectations were met.

The show opened the same way Neon Bible does, with "Black Mirror" a strong, powerful, foreboding tune. The sound mix was a little too bass heavy, and I was worried that this would continue throughout, but no, I was thankfully (and as usual) wrong.

Next was "No Cars Go", one of the best songs on the new album, and a reworked stalwart from their self-released EP. During and following this song I was in such a euphoric state, I had to ask my friends if it was just me. I can't print their entire responses because this is a family website, but most of their statements started with "Holy" and ended with an expletive. We were in good hands, the Arcade Fire was taking us places tonight.

I'm not sure where they took us, but the ride was well worth it. If an alien were to descend upon this concert (a hipster alien, obviously) it might've likened the goings on to that scene in Borat where Sascha Baron Cohen goes to a Southern Baptist meeting (if that alien had seen Borat of course). People were losing control of their limbs. People were speaking in tongues. People (read: Me) were dancing like no one could see them. Us kids were proud members of the church of Arcade Fire tonight. Where we read the Neon Bible and sing at Funerals.

The rest of the set was phenomenal. I can't really do it justice because I'm not as good at what I do as Arcade Fire is at what they do. But here are some highlights.

Neighborhood #2 (Laika) - One of the rare times your eyes aren't trained front and center. No, the real treat is stage left where (then) percussionists Richard Parry and Will Butler are hitting everything in sight, including eachother. Like Tom & Jerry armed with drumsticks, they chased eachother into the crowd.

Haiti - I'll admit. This is not one of my favorite songs on disc, but live, it's absolutely amazing. A dance party led by the adorable Regine Chassagne.

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Song of the night, and one of my favorites of all time.

Keep The Car Running - I'm a sucker for group vocals, the mandolin, and the Hurdy Gurdy. It's my favorite song on Neon Bible and it's stellar live. SNL did not do this, or them, justice.

Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) ->Rebellion (Lies) - These songs go together better than any 2 songs not put next to eachother on an album that I can remember. At this point, it was about 95 degrees inside the Orpheum, I was lightheaded and I thought I was going to pass out. Nope, that was just the entire balcony shaking by the power of this song. Great way to end the set as it always is. You know it's coming, but it doesn't bother you, you are eager for it.

Intervention - Never have church organs and indie gone together so well. By the time the 3rd verse rolls around you can kiss your voice goodbye.

Neon Bible - Strange second encore, but serene nonetheless. It came with a nice extended outro I've never seen or heard them play. I'll admit I was hoping for a Wake Up, but I don't think the foundation of the Orpheum could've taken it. What a blissful way to send us kids home happy.

Arcade Fire are the best at what they do right now, and if you haven't had a chance to see why, you're missing out.

And that, Us Kids Know...

Black Mirror
No Cars Go
Haiti
In The Backseat!
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
My Body Is A Cage
Windowsill
The Well and The Lighthouse
Ocean of Noise
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Antichrist Television Blues
Keep The Car Running
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion

Encore:
Intervention
Encore 2
Neon Bible

Setlist (thanks to ArcadeFire.net)

Pictures, albeit blurry (Thanks to me!)