Updated with setlists for all bands.
After waiting in line behind an asshole who provoked the homeless for his own amusement. After being searched. I entered the Warfield[1] for the first time. It is a beautiful venue. But far larger a space than I like to see a rock show.
Opening up was the Bell Orchestre, an instrumental band featuring members of Arcade Fire. The opening song was great with more than a little resemblance to the Arcade Fire sound. Sarah Neufeld is energetic on the violin bouncing all over the stage for both the Bell Orchestre and Arcade Fire sets. Trumpet. French Horn. Drum kit. Upright bass. The songs varied from sonic bliss to sonic mush with the drums taking over at times. Fortunately, the cd doesn't disappoint. Recording A Tape The Colour Of The Light won't be officially released in the US until November but I picked it up at the show.
Ah, Wolf Parade. I can't wait to see them in a smaller venue. A nice set but they couldn't fill the room. (Unlike, Arcade Fire who had no problem possessing the entire venue.) The songs I loved were played a little faster than on the EPs, with "I'll Believe in Anything" outracing my ability to lip-synch along. A few songs I didn't recognize, but loved, which makes me long even more for the full length release in a couple of weeks.
Starting with "Wake Up", Arcade Fire took over the stage and the entire venue for the next hour and a half. (And Owen Pallet was there on stage right playing his violin with Sarah!) With the exception of a few comments from Win Butler about how grateful he was to be playing in front of an appreciative audience instead of "30 people in the pit on cell phones", there was little banter. From my bird's eye view, I could see the supporting cast laughing and teasing each other in the background. It was fun. Regine played drums for a few songs. Everyone traded instruments.
After some sound trouble to begin the encore, the group nailed "Tunnels" with so much force I was speechless, which was good prep for the more Funeral-esqe closer "In the backseat". At the end, Win and Owen fell into the crowd and disappeared. But as I made my way back out on to Market Street to catch BART back to the Mission, I found a huge crowd surrounding Win and Owen who were still playing acoustic guitar and bells respectively. How incredible!
Bell Orchestra
[song one]
[song two]
[song three]
Rajasthan
Wolf Parade
It's a Curse
Killing Armies
Shine a Light
[new song]
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
We Build Another World
You Are a Runner and I Am My Father
Secret Knives
This Heart's On Fire
I'll Believe in Anything
Arcade Fire
Wake Up
Neigborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haiti
Headlights Look Like Diamonds
I'm Sleeping in a Submarine
Cars & Telephones
Vampire/Forest Fire
Crown of Love
Une Année Sans Lumiére
Neigborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
encore:
Neighborhood (Tunnels)
In the Backseat
[1]Note to self: Refrain from attending a show at the Warfield ever again.
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