Arcade Fire

[angrymammal]

I think it's stretching it to say it was the smallest headliner crowd to date. I thought it was pretty sparse for the likes of Razorlight and Franz Ferdinand?

[Bradders]

No, not at all. I'd say Pixies had the smallest since I started going (2003), followed closely by Arcade Fire. Razorlight and Franz were pretty average size.

[angrymammal]

There were wide open spaces for Pixies, there's no accounting for taste 'cause that show was phenomenal. I was at the barrier for Arcade Fire so didn't get the same perspective, but wouldn't be surprised if people weren't just a little less bothered about cramming in to the D as much as possible so sread themselves out a little more.

I'm not even sure its a like for like comparison. I think the shape of the arena's changed to be wider and there seems to be less distance between the stage and the food stalls at the back to make more room for the other stages.

[she bangs the drums]

Arcade Fire blew me away as much as Radiohead last year. If Glasto got them and Radiohead to headline I might actually keel over in excitement.

[rexclark]

I think you have to take into account the stage has moved this year at Leeds, I recon they had a bigger crowd than The Pixies did in 05.

[she bangs the drums]

Crowds don't really mean much as long as you enjoy the performance yourself. At Reading and Leeds, crowds are currently based on hype, marketing and current popularity.

NIN got once of the worst crowds of the main stage at Leeds in 2007 (those giants CSS took away the bulk of the crowd) and put on an amazing performance that was life changing for many people (bands like Fall Out Boy drew twice as many punters earlier that day).

Last year, Faith No More didn't even fill half of the NME tent (because KOL were playing to a record crowd on the Main Stage)but I will never forget seeing them. (Lethal Bizzle packed out the same tent with his samples)

[jonwl89]

Crowds don't really mean much as long as you enjoy the performance yourself. At Reading and Leeds, crowds are currently based on hype, marketing and current popularity.

NIN got once of the worst crowds of the main stage at Leeds in 2007 (those giants CSS took away the bulk of the crowd) and put on an amazing performance that was life changing for many people (bands like Fall Out Boy drew twice as many punters earlier that day).

Last year, Faith No More didn't even fill half of the NME tent (because KOL were playing to a record crowd on the Main Stage)but I will never forget seeing them. (Lethal Bizzle packed out the same tent with his samples)

[rexclark]

Crowds don't really mean much as long as you enjoy the performance yourself. At Reading and Leeds, crowds are currently based on hype, marketing and current popularity.

NIN got once of the worst crowds of the main stage at Leeds in 2007 (those giants CSS took away the bulk of the crowd) and put on an amazing performance that was life changing for many people (bands like Fall Out Boy drew twice as many punters earlier that day).

Last year, Faith No More didn't even fill half of the NME tent (because KOL were playing to a record crowd on the Main Stage)but I will never forget seeing them. (Lethal Bizzle packed out the same tent with his samples)

[Huwbacca]

I didn't see Arcade Fire simply because im seeing them in Manchester, I went to see Pendulum instead and enjoyed it a lot, but after hearing how good Arcade Fire were at Leeds I simply cannot wait to see them in Manchester at their own gig, should be something pretty damn special.

[Vieuphoria]

Faith No More were incredible... i do pity anyone who missed it even though thtye are technically too big for it, i'm glad they were stuck in there at short notice, made for a very great atmosphere.

[5co77ie]

I think it's stretching it to say it was the smallest headliner crowd to date. I thought it was pretty sparse for the likes of Razorlight and Franz Ferdinand?

[Bradders]

I walked past and it was depressingly big.

Also I don't see how people are still saying FNM are too big for the tent while also admitting they got a tiny crowd...

[j-j-j-j-joe!]

Really, they were definitely big enough to headline, it's the audience that's the problem. If they'd done Glastonbury, they would have had a better response, but at Reading there were too many of the Radio 1, tent burning, dizzee rascal listening, gap yah types who slagged Arcade Fire off without having heard a single one of their songs.

They knocked Eminem straight off the top album spot. Not even Tom Jones did that.

[mattl]

I walked past and it was depressingly big.

Also I don't see how people are still saying FNM are too big for the tent while also admitting they got a tiny crowd...

[clartmaster]

It was disappointing to see such a small turn out but by the end of the set I was glad they did because despite being a missive field of people the gig genuinely felt 'intimate'. It was like the whole crowd were united emotionally by their brilliance. I felt something rather special during that set, something I have only felt at a gig a couple of times! Beautiful

[festhead]

the most amazing atmospheric performance i have witnessed in my life

, words honestly cannot describe the feeling in the crowd, it was emotionally intimate

by a mile the the best headline performance this year and last year.

extremely humble down to earth people that loved what they were doing and wanted to give the audience the best performance possible ( is only carrot top axl could think like that)

and all the people who slagged them off and said who the f**k are they will soon be if not already be turning

i feel sorry for any one who went to see shitty pendulum during this set to watch what is just pure shit music but sadly thats how the new generation of people who come to reading are like, dizzee rascal, pendulum, 30h3 glowstick wearing listeners

any one who says they didnt deserve to headline before are complete goons and who ever said it after that performance should have there ears blown off so they cant listen to music again

[tolywoly]

Caught the start of Arcade Fire at Leeds, went off to watch 25mins of Bad Religion, then came back for the end of their set. Was surprised how deserted it was, you could easily get right down the front.

The peak crowd seemed to be during Dizzee Rascal. Libertines started out with a big crowd, but it dropped off.

[KingOfTheRodeo]

the most amazing atmospheric performance i have witnessed in my life

, words honestly cannot describe the feeling in the crowd, it was emotionally intimate

by a mile the the best headline performance this year and last year.

extremely humble down to earth people that loved what they were doing and wanted to give the audience the best performance possible ( is only carrot top axl could think like that)

and all the people who slagged them off and said who the f**k are they will soon be if not already be turning

i feel sorry for any one who went to see shitty pendulum during this set to watch what is just pure shit music but sadly thats how the new generation of people who come to reading are like, dizzee rascal, pendulum, 30h3 glowstick wearing listeners

any one who says they didnt deserve to headline before are complete goons and who ever said it after that performance should have there ears blown off so they cant listen to music again

[Reading Local]

There's various torrents doing the rounds which has full set from Reading ripped using the audio from the bbc footage...enjoy

http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/5797735/Arcade-Fire---Live-Reading-Festival-2010

[handsintheair]

Arcade Fire were the main reason we went to Leeds (all the way from Toronto), and i have to say we were shocked at how lame the crowd was (for them as well as many other bands that weekend). Win's comments halfway through their set about "what the f**k are you saving your energy up for, i know it's cold but come on!!" said it all. We've never seen so many people just standing there, not jumping around, not clapping or singing along at an AF gig ever. Is this typical of crowds at Leeds?

The only decent crowds we saw all weekend were for Gallows, Trash Talk, and Foals. For the most part, people seemed more concerned about what they were wearing and what stall to go to for food than about the music and rocking out. Very disappointing.

[Chris12345]

For the most part, people seemed more concerned about what they were wearing and what stall to go to for food than about the music and rocking out. Very disappointing.

[jonwl89]

Arcade Fire were the main reason we went to Leeds (all the way from Toronto), and i have to say we were shocked at how lame the crowd was (for them as well as many other bands that weekend). Win's comments halfway through their set about "what the f**k are you saving your energy up for, i know it's cold but come on!!" said it all. We've never seen so many people just standing there, not jumping around, not clapping or singing along at an AF gig ever. Is this typical of crowds at Leeds?

The only decent crowds we saw all weekend were for Gallows, Trash Talk, and Foals. For the most part, people seemed more concerned about what they were wearing and what stall to go to for food than about the music and rocking out. Very disappointing.

[Bradders]

Arcade Fire were the main reason we went to Leeds (all the way from Toronto), and i have to say we were shocked at how lame the crowd was (for them as well as many other bands that weekend). Win's comments halfway through their set about "what the f**k are you saving your energy up for, i know it's cold but come on!!" said it all. We've never seen so many people just standing there, not jumping around, not clapping or singing along at an AF gig ever. Is this typical of crowds at Leeds?

The only decent crowds we saw all weekend were for Gallows, Trash Talk, and Foals. For the most part, people seemed more concerned about what they were wearing and what stall to go to for food than about the music and rocking out. Very disappointing.

[handsintheair]

Hmmm, interesting comments. I've just never been to an Arcade Fire show -- festival or gig -- where there weren't massive singalongs. Singing and clapping along with the band is half the fun of seeing them live. I can understand the crowd not going crazy during the new songs, but Laika and Rebellion? Was kinda embarrassing, i don't blame Win a bit for the comment he made. Are the crowds at Reading just as bad?

[sjp_121]

Hmmm, interesting comments. I've just never been to an Arcade Fire show -- festival or gig -- where there weren't massive singalongs. Singing and clapping along with the band is half the fun of seeing them live. I can understand the crowd not going crazy during the new songs, but Laika and Rebellion? Was kinda embarrassing, i don't blame Win a bit for the comment he made. Are the crowds at Reading just as bad?