Arcade Fire- Summerfest American Family Amphitheater, 7/8/18

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Arcade Fire might be one of the most innovative and interesting live acts out there.  The group which is comprised of seven core multi-instrumentalists have always found a way to incorporate pomp and pageantry into their music, not unlike one of their heroes and influences, David Bowie.  

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Sunday night's headlining set at the American Family Amphitheater to conclude Summerfest 2018 was a show full of passion, energy and surprises.  Walking to my seats right at the start of the show, I was detained by security entering the American Family Amphitheater.  "What the heck," I thought to myself, wondering if the red-shirted burly guard found me to be a shady character based on my Eaux Claires t-shirt, blue plaid dad shorts, and Birkenstock sandals?  Looking over my shoulder I did spot some interesting dressed folks being ushered past me and had a gentleman in a black suit coat and black fedora give me a pat on the shoulder and wide eyed smile as he and his group moved past.  My concert buddy had snuck past the security guard and high-fived the fedora-clad Arcade Fire front man Win Butler and his traveling "band of gypsies" collective as they entered the show from the crowd!  Before taking the stage, Butler and company declared that this is a show that is best enjoyed on your feet and beckoned the crowd to stand up and remain standing throughout the set.  What followed was two-hour, controlled-chaos, spectacle of a performance, the likes of which I have never seen before.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Arcade Fire, as a band, exudes energy and power on stage.  The group consists of the husband-wife front couple- Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, along with a crew of multi-instrumentalists including William Butler, Richard Reed Perry, Tim Kingsbury, Jeremy Gara, Sarah Neufield and touring members percussionist Tiwill Duprate and horn/woodwinds player Stuart Bogie.  Bass, guitar, drums, synthesizers, piano, keyboards and violin only scratch the surface of Arcade Fire's musical arsenal.  At times during the set band members played glockenspiel, tambourine, accordion, a plethora of different saxophones and woodwind instruments, samplers, mandolins, a theremin, a hurdy-gurdy, and even a ring bell and an assortment of glass wine and liquor bottles, among a host of other instruments I surely forgot about.    

Each song was well-choreographed with unique lights and video arrangements that rivaled some of the best concert production I've ever seen.  The trade off in lead vocals between Butler and Chassagne was outstanding, and on this tour Chassagne emerged as a true star, performing like an unlikely pop diva with bodacious sequined attire and multiple costume changes.  Notable tracks where Chassagne shined (both literally and musically) included "Sprawl II (Mountains Upon Mountains)" off of 2010's The Suburbs record, and "Reflektor" off of 2013's more dance-inspired and produced record Reflektor.  Other stand out tunes spanned the band's catalogue.  Early set performances of tracks from the band's 2004 debut smash Funeral included a rousing rendition of "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" which Butler recalled was the first song the band played the last time they were in Milwaukee in 2004 at their now famous Mad Planet show.  Newer material from 2017's Everything Now was also well-done and well-received.  The title track "Everything Now" had the crowd up and moving to start the show, and "Creature Comfort" towards the end of the show saw the audience swaying to the incredibly poppy but dark track.  

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

The days of Arcade Fire playing small clubs are certainly in the past, the band's continual connections to the crowd make them an act that still comes off as intimate in large venues.  On multiple occasions, Butler and Chassagne went into the audience, performing, high-fiving fans and just exuding joy.  I think that's what happens when you have a band who continues to both reinvent themselves and love what they do as a core of musicians making poignant music.  

Setlist (courtesy of Setlist.Fm)

Everything Now
Here Comes the Night Time
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
The Suburbs
The Suburbs Continued

Ready To Start
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Electric Blue
Put Your Money On Me
We Don't Deserve Love
Keep the Car Running
No Cars Go
Reflektor
Afterlife
We Exist
Creature Comfort
Rebellion (Lies)

Encore:
Neon Bible
Everything Now (Continued)
Wake Up