Arcade Fire Seattle Concert Review

Saturday, October 9, 2010

I thought these blog posts could benefit from something non real estate related. My two passions, music and photography, seemed like good choices. Plus I had a lot of requests from people who couldn't make the show to give a run down on the event. While I'm not a music critic I am a fan and therefore this will be more of what I'll call a real world review. I had been looking forward to this show for a while. I was lucky enough to see Arcade Fire at a tiny club on Capital Hill years ago and ever since have been telling everyone I meet about this band. For those who don't know, this Montreal based group is made up mainly of husband and wife duo Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. To say that they believe it takes a small village to perform their songs is an understatement. When I heard that this once word of mouth independent band had hit the big times and would be playing the Key Arena I had no reservations that they could pull it off. Their anthem style songs always seemed a little stifled in a crowded bar setting. With my rangefinder camera slung over my shoulder, my wife and I took our time walking around the city center taking photographs and wearing down the scalpers. This photo is of an unassuming apartment near where we ate dinner. I'm a big believer that part of every good night out involves Thai Food. I just love the way the night glows on an Indian summer's night.



After securing some very cheap tickets we made our way inside to stake out our space down on the floor. I had a moment of fear as we went through security that they were not going to let me in with my camera. While a Leica technically has a detachable lens and therefore banned from entering the show, the lady waved us in after she commented that it looked like a toy camera. Add one more reason why I love this camera. It has as much power as a Cannon DSLR but is so unassuming. Probably why it's a street photographer's prized possession. This photo is of us looking down to the stage. I like the look of this image with it's dark colors and these little yellow security guards popping out like worker bees. 



I sometimes feel bad for opening bands. While Calexico, the Tuscan based Americana group, is frequently on my music play list I just couldn't get into them here. Everyone around me seemed too excited about the main event to care. I always act interested and focused with the opening act out of respect but this shot of the blue lit back drop over an empty stage was the best I could capture.



Finally, Arcade Fire was on stage. With three guitars and two drum kits there is a moment when it's so much sensory overload that I don't know where to set my gaze. The opening song on the set list was none other than "Ready to Start" an infectious driving beat with layers of pop piano. The crowd was instantly into it. I should back up and say something about the band's new album, Suburbs. It has the feel of a concept album and it's not a cheap shot at the life of the conservative families living quietly in their gated communities like I thought it was going to be. It's just the opposite, a nostalgic look at the life past.  The contributing band members reflected on the small town they grew up in full of cul-de-sac neighborhoods where they rode their bikes as kids. If you are a fan of the band and have not yet seen the very cool interactive video hosted at www.TheWildernessDowntown.com, stop reading and go check it out. 



The next song "Month of May", was never high on my list but somehow seeing it live it's become one of my favorites. Great energy, feels like an old rock and roll song but quickly turns into this monsoon storm. It's the beginning of the album's revolving theme, "First they built the road, then they built the town..", the idea that something pure is lost when towns are turned into cities, when sprawling malls pop up like mountains. You can never get it back. I had to throw in this photo of someone using their camera to record every moment of the show, probably to throw online (how dare they:). I was contributing to it as well I'm sure but something is lost with the interaction between the artist and fans when 100 cell phones in front of me go up with miniature flashes just when an inspiring moment begins to ensue.



"Sprawl II", one of my all time favorite tracks from these guys has some of the best lyrics. "They heard me singing and they told me to stop, quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock". It's paired nicely with another song stuck in the head lyrics. "If I could have it back, all the time that we wasted, I'd only waste it again". This idea that for some reason only things that are productive and prosperous are worthy of our time, well it's a false one. The best times in my life are the ones where I aimlessly walk around with a camera in hand, or a no destination road trip. It's good to get away from the city lights and wander around a bit. Don't you agree? 



One of the lead tracks on this album is title, "We Used to Wait" and here the stage just came alive. For a band like Arcade Fire this stage was a big deal, for a band like U2, well this is what their dressing room would be like I imagine. It had the balance of enough solid structure to weight the stage but not to much flash to take away from the performers. The freeway overpass was lit up by an ever changing backdrop of palm trees, desert and city landscapes. The video screen was made to look like home town high school football reader complete with field lights. While this song was performed well live it doesn't hold a candle to running outside with headphones blaring.



These next three photos are focusing on the crowd. I have to hand it to the people around me on the floor. They were full of energy and made the show that much more memorable. Nothing is worse than sitting up in the bleachers with neighbors sitting down folding their hands. Right before the encore the lead singer said that for being in the birth place of Grunge Music we were all pretty chill. I think that was a challenge to get a little more loose and the guys in front of me took it as an invite to bring back crowd surfing. The last two songs of the night, "Intervention" and what is sure to become every concert closer, "Wake Up" both led right into each other. The fans went nuts and the set was ablaze with lights. It was a perfect end to a great set list. During the show the band seemed genuinely grateful for being able to play in a place like Key Arena and thanked their fan base for supporting them through this bigger than life transition. 












A sign of a good show is after the band exits and the lights come up, looking around and seeing friends with arms over each others shoulders still swaying back and forth humming the last song's chorus. These two photos speak for themselves. 








I took this last shot outside of the city center on the way back to the car as a goodbye to the evening. It is an art installation with a concrete frame, door and a picture of an unknown man. If anyone knows more info about this piece, pass it along to me.