Arcade Fire - Amphitheatre (August 29/14)

Initially the costume idea struck as a brand making demands but upon reflection it could be seen as a band making an event out of their concert. Wouldn't it be more exciting if you planned for it and were surrounded by people looking their best, or in their best costume? In interview Win backed the latter reasoning and any attendee would have to admit that it worked. Sure there were more people in jeans and a tee than a suit or a banana suit but there was plenty to look at and even more to be excited about. For me it had been damn near a decade since the last show (Hillside July 2005), an awe-striking performance that still wells up joyous feelings, so I could hardly wait for it to begin. It was fitting that the band took part as a costume-head in the likeness of each band member marched out to start the show, breaking into the music and setting the crowd off only to be booted by the actual band who emerged in faux surprise and anger. Scripted yes, but still amusing.

With the real band on stage, a whole bunch of them, constantly moving about between instruments, they played a setlist that is damn close to what I would have crafted in a perfect world. This being the Reflektor tour this idea-heavy and danceable disc got its due with the obvious stellar Afterlife, while even Normal Person and Oh Orpheus were brought to life. That last track saw Regine out in the middle of the crowd to sing while three skeleton-suited people floated behind her. Slightly inexplicable it just added to the spectacle such as the being suited completely in chain-mail made of mirrors, in a cloud of fog, with spotlights beaming off as if lasers were being shot from this dancing light-emitter. Keeping with the reflecting theme there were a couple differing sets of mirrors that were lowered above the group depending on the song, but oddly not for the title-track of the latest album. Only a couple Neon Bible tracks made it, rightly so, if you include a top fun tune on the night, Keep the Car Running, (which was actually re-released after being on the debut self-titled.) In addition they also picked the best of The Suburbs - Ready to Start, The Suburbs - the best in my opinion as well as theirs apparently. To round out the set was the Regine-leading Sprawl II, hands-down my 'burbs fave, which didn't seem a natural show closer but I was pleasantly surprised to note the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the rest of the crowd to match my own.

All night they leant heavily on Funeral which is a tried and true strategy at this point - throwing Rebellion Lies, Tunnels and Haiti into the mix. However it was a safe bet that it would be included in the encore as well. Perhaps the only misstep of the night seemed to be upon re-emerging for the encore as they did something they've been doing at each stop - an ode to the city by covering someone local. First they referenced Hamilton's Teenage Head with a reprise of the costume-head joke, then for some reason a snippet of Shania Twain played before the band ended up playing Who Do You Love? as they reasoned it was made famous by Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Maybe the song was just before our time, or that their version was unfamiliar but it fell a little flat. However when you follow it up the way they did it is easy to move on.

Nearly a year ago the half hour video was released in anticipation of the new album and since that point it was obvious that their live show was going to be a party. The primary reason for that is the tempo busting Here Comes the Nighttime which they played in all its glory - perhaps the crowning song of the night albeit not the last. No, they went back to Funeral for both Power Out and the natural nightcap - Wake Up (same as last time..). As if the song and the night aren't epic enough the Exhibition fireworks began to blow, as did the minds of everyone in attendance. A transcendental show that makes me wonder - what the hell have I been waiting a decade for?!

Openers - Constantines and Dan Deacon

1. Jurassic Park: End Credits 
   (John Williams song)
0. Rebellion (Lies) 
   (intro played by fake band)
1. Normal Person 
2. Rebellion (Lies) 
3. Joan of Arc 
4. Empty Room 
   (slowed down intro)
5. The Suburbs 
6. The Suburbs (Continued) 
7. Ready to Start 
8. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) 
9. Keep the Car Running 
10. Intervention 
11. We Exist 
    (w/ 'My Body Is a Cage' acapella intro)
12. Reflektor 
13. Haïti 
14. Afterlife 
15. It's Never Over (Oh Orpheus) 
    (Régine on B-stage)
16. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) 
    ('Damian Taylor Remix' intro)
17. Encore:
16. Picture My Face 
    (Teenage Head song) (Fake band on stage)
17. Who Do You Love? 
    (Bo Diddley cover)
18. Here Comes the Night Time 
19. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) 
20. Wake Up