It was one of those scorching summer days in Liverpool. Twenty four degrees with not an air. To make things worse, I found myself in work on a day that the air conditioning had packed in. However, even this acclimatisation could not prepare me for the intensity and sheer heat of The Carling Academy. Fourteen hundred people packed into the venue, likened as a “coffin” by lead singer Win Butler to witness a relatively unknown band from Canada (the most musically talented of countries) stage perhaps the most powerful and affecting set I will ever experience. Support came from Final Fantasy AKA Owen Pallett. A scrawny, less than inspirational looking chap, who graced the stage wielding only a violin. However his humour and incredible talent, quickly dispelled my initial judgement. His music as complex and exhilarating as that of a classical orchestra. Using his violin and a nifty piece of technology, he lay out his songs. Layer by layer, like one of those Russian dolls that tourists buy on holiday, each layer more intricate and absorbing than the previous. His warm vocal tone added emotion and was occasionally accented by violent screeches. He is quite simply a ‘Bedroom Bach’. For the generation who probably believe that Bach is spelt with a ‘k’ rather than an ‘h’. However, it has to be said that there are many flaws. Sometimes his songs lack substance and focus. As impeccably arranged and innovative as they are, they lack that extra something. His preamble was the perfect warm up for a crowd already boiling over with expectation and excitement to the prospect of the Arcade Fire’s imminent arrival. | "From bashing motorcycle helmets and various other objects, to climbing rigs and falling off the stage. They certainly put on a show. " | | Kieron Clarke |
Arrive they did, triumphantly at that. They poured onto the stage, accompanied by Pallett. Seven ragtag frumps performing with all the confidence and outrageousness of an artist with the Turner prize in mind. ‘Wake Up’ from their debut album Funeral introduced the frumpy-folksters to their already adoring fans, as well as those who simply came on word of mouth. The quickly followed on with the no less wonderful ‘Headlights Look Like Diamonds’ from their 2003 EP. They looked so passé. Dressed in waistcoats and costumes that would not look out of place on the set of ‘Allo Allo’. Indeed their comic element does not stop there. One member more than resembled the bacteria man off the Yakult advert, but it was their on stage antics that certainly made me smile. Horseplay, the likes of which Men Behaving Badly would have been proud of. I can not say that the set contained a single weak song. Though to be honest , some of the gig I only vaguely remember hearing. ‘Crown of Love’, ‘Vampires’, and ‘7 Kettles’ were played but other than recognising what the tunes were it is a blur. It was not that all the songs sounded the same or the band was boring, nor was I drunk. It was more that I had been relaxed into a musically induced nirvana. Apart from the ten or so minutes where I seem to recall nothing of the performance, it was all action. From bashing motorcycle helmets and various other objects, to climbing rigs and falling off the stage. They certainly put on a show. What impressed me more than anything was the movement on stage. Not just movement in the sense of energy but also the musical chairs like rotation system in operation as they swapped duties almost every song. Whether this was just a gimmick or an attempt to keep themselves interested during the show, I don’t know. But I liked it! | 
