via//chicago

Arcade Fire - Live at the Chicago Theatre 05.19.07

Last night I was fortunate enough to see my third Arcade Fire show, this time sitting in fantastic third row orchestra pit tickets at the beautiful Chicago Theatre. It was, as to be expected, a fantastic show all-around but the band's energy level seemed to be a tiny bit lower than the other two times I'd seen them. Still, Arcade Fire at 90% is still better than most bands at 110% so I can't complain. It was a decent mix of material from both albums, leaning a bit heavier on Neon Bible tracks (I think all but two were played) as was to be expected. I still think the Funeral tracks are more fun to see performed live, but I did gain a better appreciation for a couple of the newer tracks after this show (especially "My Body Is A Cage" - previously my least favorite on the new album). There were no out in the audience tricks, just a solid show with a two song encore - "Body" and "Laika". Particular standouts for me were "Tunnels", "(Antichrist Television Blues)" and "Power Out". Great show all around. Supposedly both Tim Robbins and Rachel McAdams were in attendance, but I didn't manage to catch a glimpse.

The biggest surprise of the night was opening band Electrelane, an all female four-piece out of England that completely blew me away. One minute they were channelling Stereolab with French lyrics and vintage keyboards, another they were torturing their instruments in a feedback-laden Sonic Youth jam. Particularly exciting to watch was guitarist Mia Clarke, exorcising all sorts of demons out of her guitar when she wasn't trying to kill it or hump it. I can't remember the last time I've been so enthralled by a new band, this show made me an instant fan.

In other big music news, "Tarantula" the first new music from the Smashing Pumpkins in almost eight years made its way to the internet and radio stations over the weekend. Hopefully I'll have a little more to say about this tomorrow night, but let's just say I was pleasantly surprised.