Arcade Fire

As the tent is bathed in an orange glow from the sunset Arcade Fire take to the stage. Although they’ve actually been pottering about on stage for some time, sorting out their instruments. The Canadian band rip open with ‘Wake Up’ and their drummer (or at least the one that’s currently playing a drum, they all swap instruments often) is spinning his drumstick repeatedly in the air. The harmonies produce a sing along from the rapturous crowd that are packing the tent and much hand clapping.

‘Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)’ has a wheezing accordian and fiddles and the current drummers are sharing an American football helmet, then one is drumming on it, moments later a shirt is being used to bash the drums. This may sound chaotic but the music created certainly isn’t, it’s inspired and intense and more loud applause follows.

The band all swap around again for a track I’ve not heard before called, ‘No Cars Go’ and ‘Haiti’ where the female singer Regine Chassagne takes over singing duties, and the sun may have set but there is still a wonderful glow to the audience. She moves on to keyboards for 'Headlights Look Like Diamonds' and before the band play it, they ask for the lights to be turned up full to see the whole crowd. The lighting is promptly turned up and wow, the place is packed, there are many more outside too. Towards the end of the song the male singer, Win Butler dives out into the throng to crowd surf!

He returns to take up the keyboard duties for ‘Crown Of Love’ and he introduces each member of this fantastic new band. The song starts up after a sing along of happy birthday to his wife Regine. The song is another rousing anthem and I’m reminded of the Flaming Lips or The Flaming Lips and lighters are held aloft.

They biggest cheers goes up for ‘Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)’ and the crowd love joining in. I’m momentarily distracted by the part of the crowd beside us are all doing the Whigfield dance! Sacrilege. Not surprisingly with only a debut album there’s no chance of any more different stuff from that showcased on ‘Funeral’.

But we certainly don’t mind as there are more instrument swaps for ‘Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)’ and they conclude with ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ which has the crowd in raptures. What a fantastic performance and possibly the biggest highlight of Reading 2005.

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