With the theatrical flavor of Pink Floyd and the emotive tendencies of The Cure, The Arcade Fire mesmerized a sold out crowd at Boston’s Orpheum Theater.
The rag-tag ensemble from Montreal kicked the night off with “Black Mirror,” the opening track from Neon Bible. The album is defined by a consistent theme of criticism aimed toward ideological demagogy, which could apply to past conflicts, the current war in Iraq, or even events that have yet to unfold. Given the strong undertone of anti-authoritarianism that their new material champions, the gothic, faux-cathedral-styled stage setup provided the perfect backdrop for front man Win Butler to tell tales about “working for the church while your family dies.”
On “Windowsill” and “(Anarchist Television Blues)” the Arcade Fire demonstrated their knack for dishing out songs that utilize pop-sensibilities while incorporating multi-layered instrumental organization. Butler manned up on a gigantic, glowing pipe organ for “My Body Is A Cage”, while the rest of the band continued to swap instruments and keep things interesting. Rather than simply strumming through the songs, Butler played the role of a bandleader as he guided the ten-person-strong group.
Butler’s impressive feats as a front man shouldn’t underscore the significant role played by his wife and sidekick, Regine Chassagne. When Butler was pointing the group in the right direction, Chassagne was the one who actively took them there. Playing the mandolin, hurdy gurdy, fiddle and the drums, she provided the audience with an equally impressive counter-point to Butler’s stage presence.
By the time The Arcade Fire had wrapped up evening with a second encore of “Neon Bible,” they’d given everyone in the house an articulate understanding as to why baby-booming critics and underage blogoholics have been showering them with praise. They’ve created a unique, multifaceted sound to call their own while incorporating the same age-old song structure that has always made a hit a hit.
