Arcade Fire warms up the cold night

Despite cool fall weather two great bands draw big crowd

Never having played a show in Utah previously, Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem decided to make the trip together, playing Thanksgiving Point’s Electric Park on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Both bands are currently touring together to promote their latest releases. Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible has received quite a bit of acclaim, and on the back of their initial release, Funeral, the band has achieved a mass audience and gained a fair amount of popularity.

James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem has earned quite a bit of buzz in its own right. The new album from the dance-punk outfit, Sound of Silver, has definitely lived up to the standard set by their Grammy-nominated release, LCD Soundsystem.

The hype generated by these two phenomenal releases generated an awesome crowd Wednesday evening, despite the fact the show was set outside and it wasn’t exactly warm after seven that evening. Both bands brought their A-games and satisfied the crowd that had anticipated the day this show would finally materialize.

Murphy and crew got the evening going right on time and in great style. Opening with their stand-out track, “Daft Punk is Playing at My House,” everyone got to dancing and the dancing did not stop for the rest of the night.

One of the most intense moments of the set was when Al Doyle (guitarist, also a member of Hot Chip) shredded his guitar to death at the end of “Movement.” Doyle went to town on his strings and on a myriad of other instruments throughout the set, but the way he took of during “Movement” was truly compelling.

Other than that, Murphy and the rest of the crew were pretty stationary, but that’s their style, and it works. LCD Soundsystem performed well with a good mix of new songs, “North American Scum,” “Someone Great,” and “New York I Love You, but You’re Bringing Me Down,” as well as the classic songs from the self-titled album.

Comprised of ten members and countless instruments, Arcade Fire was impossible not to enjoy. Opening with “Black Mirror” Win Butler and wife Régine Chassagne led the crew through a twisting set of emotional stories unveiled through song. The lights and video that accompanied the group helped turn the set into an experience instead of a concert as well.

They moved between the four “Neighborhoods” from Funeral and hit “Intervention” with the booming organ throughout and hit “No Cars Go” as well. Butler even dedicated “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” to his grandpa, Alvino Rey, who, according to Butler, took him and his brother William into the surrounding mountains fishing numerous times. He also hinted at the fact that those memories made it hard for him to be back here, perhaps one reason they’ve only passed through Utah on tour until now.

Ending the set with an encore preceded by the rambunctious “Rebellion (Lies),” Arcade Fire put on a spectacle that tops the list of live performances which have come through the state this year. Despite the cold night air and large numbers of people crowding around to take it all in, this show was void of filler and full of incredible music and performance.

Both Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem would be more than welcome back for another show anytime.