Arcade Fire have been making arena-sized art rock since 2004’s Funeral, which the band supported with an ecstasy-imparting show at the Paramount Theatre. Six years later, they’re touring in support of their Billboard-chart-topping new glory The Suburbs, and playing in actual arenas: Sometimes history proceeds as it should. Tonight’s KeyArena gig should be a theatrical ravishment of Springsteenian grandeur, drama-club enthusiasm, and the closest thing to a revival meeting most liberal secular humanists will ever get. Calexico open. (KeyArena, 305 Harrison St, Seattle Center, www.ticketmaster.com, 7:30 pm, $40)
David Schmader—former weed columnist and Stranger associate editor—is the author of the solo plays Straight and Letter to Axl, which he’s performed in Seattle and across the US. His latest... More by David Schmader
God, they’re depressing.
I think Arcade Fires work so far has been nothing short of brilliant, but I just can’t get into the new album. I’ve listened to it about 10 times, and it’s just…meh. Everyone I talk to loves it. I’m all like forealz?
Well, I did enjoy the interviews with them on CBC.
But still, they’re so depressing.
isn’t this that lightweight springsteen ripoff band?
(4: I think you’re thinking of the Hold Steady.)
They are so, so good in concert, though the thought of Key Arena’s horrible acoustics is depressing. I saw them at Red Rocks on the Neon Bible tour, and I would heartily recommend seeing Arcade Fire at an outdoor amphitheater show if you ever get the chance.