The Arcade Fire + Bell Orchestre
Last night's concert was simply amazing. The Arcade Fire lived up to their hype of putting on great performances. The energy of the percussionists was something to be in awe of (it's not every concert you see two members put helmets on each other and beat each other's heads with drum sticks). Having two guitarists, a bass player, keyboardists, drummer, two additional percussionists, two violinists, a stand-up bass player, an accordianist, and a french horn lends itself to a crowded stage and a festive show. Instruments were repeatedly broken, people were injured (the secondary guitarist/stand-up bass player cut his finger badly while literally denting a symbol over and over again with a stick), and emotion ran strong. It was a suitable end for the guitar-playing singer and a fellow band member to leave during the end of the last song by getting off the stage into the crowd (still playing, mind you) and walk through the crowd to the back of the venue. I got to pat each on the back; my job was complete.
Supporting them was Bell Orchestre, an off-shoot of The Arcade Fire in that it is an instrumental group composed of the two violinists, the stand-up bass player, the frech horn, and a drummer. I want to say they sound similar to The Arcade Fire, but they really don't. Jenny described them as angsty orchestral music dying to be a soundtrack to something. Not to say that it was superficial background music, but that if you closed your eyes you could see a strong visual representation of the song.
Also along for the ride was fellow Montreal band Wolf Parade. They were rather energetic and provided a better than average show for an opening band. Almost a throwback to late 70s rock. I have to go meet with my advisor on campus, so I have to cut this entry short.
If this entry was too long for you (Lauren), I apologize. Wait a second, no I don't. Go cry to your Italian public.
Supporting them was Bell Orchestre, an off-shoot of The Arcade Fire in that it is an instrumental group composed of the two violinists, the stand-up bass player, the frech horn, and a drummer. I want to say they sound similar to The Arcade Fire, but they really don't. Jenny described them as angsty orchestral music dying to be a soundtrack to something. Not to say that it was superficial background music, but that if you closed your eyes you could see a strong visual representation of the song.
Also along for the ride was fellow Montreal band Wolf Parade. They were rather energetic and provided a better than average show for an opening band. Almost a throwback to late 70s rock. I have to go meet with my advisor on campus, so I have to cut this entry short.
If this entry was too long for you (Lauren), I apologize. Wait a second, no I don't. Go cry to your Italian public.