Arcade Fire

Though I did like Coldplay back in the day, stadium rock has never really been my cup of tea. As I've said before, I like going to smaller gigs - the biggest concert I've been to was at a venue that held about three-four thousand people (which isn't that many people). As the name suggests, stadium rock is made for huge audiences in big venues. But now I've actually found a stadiumsized band that appeals to me. And yes, I know, it's so 2007, but I've fallen in love with Arcade Fire. I bought 'Neon Bible', their second album, spontaneously back in October last year. It wasn't expensive, I thought 'Keep The Car Running' was a good song, the deluxe edition looked so nice and when I'm in a record shop I sometimes feel like I have to buy something. So I just figured 'what the heck, it's on every best of the year 2007-list, it can't be that bad'. The album didn't really do the trick for me at first listen but I felt like I was going like it at some point, I just hadn't cracked the code yet (which is often the way it is with the best music). Then I got obsessed with Owen Pallet's work and tried to search for stuff where he performed with them... and I was quite taken aback by what I found. I realised that I had been missing out on an awful lot back in 2007 when I was genuinely annoyed that everyone was talking about just how brilliant a band Arcade Fire were.

To most people they probably don't need an introduction, but they're an orchestral rock band who make big music with everyting from guitars and violins to accordions and hurdy gurdies. This makes them both striking to watch and listen to. I was sceptic at first but I've decided that when watching a live performance in a little YouTube window makes you feel knocked out and gives you goosebumps it cannot be a bad thing. Their live performances are filled with passion and an impressive amount of energy. I think they kind of represent one the best things about music - the sheer joy and fun of banging a drum or singing a song - but, of course, on a much much bigger scale. A great example of that would be the video of 'Neighbourhood #2 (Laïka)' at a french festival in 2005. Just watch it and see. That's a fucking drum fight! And the second video, of 'Wake Up' at Glastonbury festival in 2007, is just INCREDIBLE. Captivates perfectly why I need to go to Glasto at least once in my life (because I might not be a fan of huge concerts but I do like festivals).