Mission Completed at the Tower

We told you that we dug Arcade Fire in our preview but we didn't realize how much until we left Arcade Fire's concert on Saturday night. Arcade Fire's show was one of the best shows we have ever been to, hands down. Their mission was, "to uplift fans, combat 'spiritual death' and bring back the hurdy-gurdy." They completed all three of these missions with incredible music, awesome stage presence and an overall kick-ass show. Their set was electrifying!

Right after their first song, "Black Mirror," Win Butler, the lead singer, screamed at the audience, "Every fucking time with these tickets, I swear. Can you guys come down here?" The audience flooded the aisles, jumped over seats, climbed on top of people to get as close as possible to the stage. On stage ten musicians played a wide variety of instruments ranging from brass and percussion to strings. The brass included everything from a baritone saxophone to a french horn. The two brass players covered the bass lines while the string players (violin and viola) played higher melodic riffs. Other instruments included the upright bass, electric guitar, organ, hurdy-gurdy, drum set, numerous percussion instruments (including a motorcycle helmet) and xylophones. Every band member performed numerous instruments (except the string players) and sang through a megaphone or a regular mic.

There was no soloist throughout the evening, rather a "group" sound for every song. The lack of solos gives Arcade Fire the power they yearn for in their music. There is unified power in their sound from their first note to their last. This energy gives their music a sense of urgency. Regine - a hurdy-gurdy player, percussionist, and lead singer for the band - was singing her heart out. When she wasn't singing she was rocking it out with her crazy-ass dancing. Every single performer was giving 150% to obtain an effect that was mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. Every single one of them was drenched with sweat by their closing number.

They played 10 out of the 11 Neon Bible songs with only a few from their debut album, Funeral. Their set list (courtesy of the fan website) included:

1. Black Mirror
2. No Cars Go
3. Laika
4. Haiti
5. Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
6. Neon Bible
7. Windowsill
8. Well and the Lighthouse
9. Ocean of Noise
10. (Antichrist Television Blues)
11. Power Out
12. Rebellion (Lies)
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13. Keep the Car Running
14. Intervention

A lot has happened for Arcade Fire since they last visited Philadelphia in the First Unitarian Church (besides Butler's mishap with Ethiopian food). From a small basement venue to a sold-out 3500-seat theater, Arcade Fire's sound is edgy, new, and completely fulfilling. Some fans were worried that the Tower Theater was too big of a venue for this church-playing band; we thought they rocked with no problem! They spiritually uplifted while introducing the audience to the hurdy-gurdy. Nothing else compares.

Image courtesy of flickr user: chriszak