They might have played every festival this summer, but surely that means they’ve had loads of practise…? Arcade Fire tonight showed they had more to give than the average group, putting many of the other acts to shame.
They began with ‘Keep The Car Running’, at which point I was running towards the main stage through the throngs. The band draw an enormous crowd, increasing as the gig goes on – during closer ‘Wake Up’ more and more people are pushing past us.
The band really know how to push the theatrics of the gig to the extreme. ‘Haiti’ ends in crashing crescendos, while ‘Black Mirror’ takes shape from ebbing feedback and a pulsing beat.
During ‘Windowsill’ the moon comes up. It’s a fitting accompaniment to the song’s dark vibes, and to the group’s nocturnal genius.
Words: Tom Pinnock