Arcade Fire as headliners?

[Langdale Wolf]

Yes, because they love the Stone's back catalogue and havent witnessed how shocking they are these days.

Of course, people will have to find out the hard way, just as I had to.

[russycarps]

Even though quite a few people have said they've seen them recently and enjoyed them?

[Langdale Wolf]

I am just the messenger. I dont deserve to be shot.

Hopefully my words will in some small way lessen the crushing disappointment 90% of people are going to feel next June. Sadly, I know I will be one of them as I love the stones so much that I will be clinging on to that scrap of hope that they will somehow pull off a great set.

But in my heart of hearts I know it is going to be a huge steaming pile of dung.

[shearer999]

I know not going to happen as headliners but now that they are meant to be doing Reading/Leeds does this increase or decrease there chances of doing Glastonbury this year ?

[scaryclaireyfairy]

they loved playing reading the last time yet they really didn't get glasto at all. i doubt we'll see them.

[MEGABOWL]

I know not going to happen as headliners but now that they are meant to be doing Reading/Leeds does this increase or decrease there chances of doing Glastonbury this year ?

[Memory Man]

I think if they play reading and leeds it will be a UK if not world exclusive.

i am still very surprised at the TBC for R+L, it just doesnt seem to make any sense whatsoever!!

[dan8k]

meant to be playing bestival aswell.

[Toilet Duck]

I think if they play reading and leeds it will be a UK if not world exclusive.

[markeee]

they didnt enjoy glasto? I didn't hear that - howcome?!

[Kyelo]

I think if they play reading and leeds it will be a UK if not world exclusive.

[Tugger2k]

Merit's all very subjective though, isn't it? I'm sure that a lot of people would prefer to see one of the greatest bands in rock n' roll play to be honest. But I forget - it's all about you isn't it baby?

So better than Bob Dylan's "Royal Albert Hall" concert, then? Or maybe Jimi Hendrix at Monterrey? Or the Beatles at Shea Stadium? Queen Live Magic at Wembley? The Band's Last Waltz?

[robith]

What you on about? R&L get very few UK exclusives and can't think of any world exclusives.

Personal opinion on Arcade Fire, love them but just not big enough to play as headliner.

[Langdale Wolf]

Personal opinion on Arcade Fire, love them but just not big enough to play as headliner.

[robith]

I would disagree on this.

They're getting bigger and bigger all the time - I think their forthcoming album will see them right up there with other supposed 'big name stadium bands'.

All headliners have to start somewhere, and they all have their 'first time' to headline. Arcade Fire have the stage presence, the material, the talent and after their new album comes out, I predict they'll have the reputation worthy of a headlining performance.

They're a f**kload better than a lot of headline acts we've already seen, and would certainly put on a better show.

I also think the above could apply to Elbow as well.

[Kyelo]

I would disagree on this.

They're getting bigger and bigger all the time - I think their forthcoming album will see them right up there with other supposed 'big name stadium bands'.

All headliners have to start somewhere, and they all have their 'first time' to headline. Arcade Fire have the stage presence, the material, the talent and after their new album comes out, I predict they'll have the reputation worthy of a headlining performance.

They're a f**kload better than a lot of headline acts we've already seen, and would certainly put on a better show.

I also think the above could apply to Elbow as well.

[russycarps]

Are they though? Their last album was 3 years ago, and to most people it was a disappointment (not me I loved it)

They sold so many tickets on the back of people missing out when they only did small tours for Funeral - I got the feeling a lot of people felt they underwhelmed.

Would they put on an incredible sho? Beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Would they draw the casual punter who probably makes up about 60% of any crowd at a festival these days? Unlikely I'd say

[Langdale Wolf]

Irrelevant who is better than who, that is subjective. Point is they are a fairly niche act who 1.don't sell much and 2.aren't well known. They are critically established as a decent act but there are plenty of those.

Simple fact is they are nowhere near the same league as most headliners in terms of size but saying that festivals seem to put the odd random act on from time to time so it's not that unsurprising.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Langdale Wolf

[Kyelo]

Yes - that is irrelevant. For example, I would much rather watch Show of Hands at the Avalon Stage than Muse headlining the pyramid. I accept AF aren't as big a name as Muse etc, but that doesn't mean they couldn't pull it off, and it doesn't mean Glastonbury wouldn't think of having them as a headliner.

But Arcade Fire's reputation grew massively when Neon Bible came out (FWIW I love NB but it's not a patch on the sublime Funeral) and the slots they were given showed a rise in prominence.

Festivals like Glastonbury have been known to put faith into their headliners (Arctics, KoL, Travis in 2000, Muse in 2004 - all could be seen as 'risky' headliners who many people would consider 'unworthy' headliners). I see the likes of Arcade Fire and Elbow as acts who are ready to step up to the biggest slots on the bill, now both have a decent back catalogue, decent festival pedigree and more and more prominence as acts.

We'll have to see how Arcade Fire/Elbow's new albums are received. I predict they'll both be huge hits and sell by the bucketload which could be enough to see them in the 'worthy headliner' bracket.

Time will tell.

[Langdale Wolf]

Artic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and Muse when they were 'risky' all massivly outsold AF in their current stature. If AF were to headline it would be the biggest risk of them all.

You are correct though, their new album could be the breakthrough. We will see

[robith]

Were most people disappointed by it? I thought it sold well and was critically acclaimed. I dont recall it being a flop in any way at all. I know many people who prefer it to Funeral. I think you are being unnecessarily harsh here.

I thought they didnt like glastonbury because of the mud rather than them not "getting" it. I doubt it would put them off returning. Maybe it would you, after all, the lead singer is supposedly a huge veiny cock of a man, according to wayne coyne anyway.

[Langdale Wolf]

I only know one person who prefers NB to Funeral.

[ralph250]

I know several. In fact, most people I know prefer NB to Funeral.

They're wrong, of course, but it IS a popular album. However, it had quite an act to follow. Funeral is in my top 10 albums of all time. In fact, I listened to it on my iPod on the way into work this morning.

[Langdale Wolf]

yeah, but you don't like "in the backseat" which is the best song on the album

[Toilet Duck]

As I said in an earlier post, I listened to Funeral earlier this morning and even after hundreds of listens, every song sends a shiver down my spine. It's a phenomenal album.