The New Music

The Arcade Fire have been quite busy lately. First there were the secret shows, then playing a hometown festival, while the same weekend they released their latest album The Suburbs. They streamed their New York Madison Square Gardens show live on YouTube, and then played The Daily Show. And Saturday? They headed to Toronto’s Olympic Island to put on a concert.

Unlike other island shows in the past this concert started later in the day, but featured great opening acts nonetheless. Polaris Prize nominees The Sadies opened, followed by Janelle Monae, who really got the show started. Win Butler announced the OutKast powerhouse of a protege, who had the crowd on their feet from beginning to end of her set. The always-stylish Monae appeared on stage with a slick pair of oxfords on her dancing feet and was joined by two masked dancing minions who danced into the crowd and threw balloons. Janelle Monae’s funky dance pop is impossible not to move along to (see Many Moons, Tightrope, or the heart wrenching Cold War). By the end of her set, we were all warmed up and ready for some Arcade Fire!

The lights dimmed, the crowd cheered, and Arcade Fire took to the stage with Ready To Start kicking into what was an energetic, powerful set! Month Of May was filled with vigor and guts, which contrasted to the light on its toes Funeral favourite Neighborhood #2 (Laika) which followed.

From Haiti to Modern Man the set was mostly a mix of The Suburbs and Funeral, with Neon Bible’s Intervention as the only song from the album that made an appearce at Olympic Island. Even the delicate and beautiful Crown Of Love was a lovely little surprise that was snuck in, and even caused some to slow dance! Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), a stand out Suburbs charm, was a highlight as Regines voice soared and the crowd sang along.

Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) and Rebellion (Lies) closed up the set as the audience continued to sing the choral ending ooo-ooo-ooos once the band had left the stage, calling for an encore. Arcade Fire happily agreed, and came back on to play Keep the Car Running. The night was then brought to an end with what else but Wake Up, their signature closing sing-a-long song. Everyone belted their hearts out.

If you have yet to pick up a copy of The Suburbs, what’s taking you so long?! Go give it a listen! Then go see them live! Here are their upcoming Canadian tour dates

MTS Centre Winnipeg, Thu 23rd Sept 2010
Credit Union Centre Saskatoon, Sat 25th Sept 2010
Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, Sun 26th Sept 2010
Pacific Coliseum Vancouver, Tue 28th Sept 2010