Win Butler & co play sensational career-spanning Camden show with fancy dress as 'fake' band
by Andrew Trendell | Photos by WENN
Tags: Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire played the first show of their UK tour as The Reflektors with a stunning show at The Roundhouse in London last night (Monday 11 November). See photos, footage and setlist details below.
The queue to get into the Roundhouse in Camden was sprawling down the street and round the corner hours before doors even opened, and made for quite a sensational sight as the vast majority of the audience met the dress code of 'formal attire or fancy dress'. Members of staff were also on hand to decorate the crowd with face paint, while others simply strolled around in Arcade Fire's oversized Reflektor heads. It was brilliant.
Win Butler paid tribute to those who the extra effort during set, saying their "chances of getting laid had increased by 1000%".
To add to the sense of occasion, the band decked out the Roundhouse in glitter curtains and mirrorballs, giving the whole venue a Studio 54 kind of vibe. Not only that, but the band had a Mariachi band playing rock classics on the door to greet gig-goers.
Opening with title track 'Reflektor', the band play a somewhat brief but career-spanning 14 song set that drew a fairly religious response from the capacity crowd.
Watch the band play 'Reflektor' at The Roundhouse below
Their set leaned heavily on material from their most recent album, and also included a cover of 'Uncontrollable Urge' by Devo. Win Butler also took the time to thank the audience for their support and buying Reflektor - making it the No.1 record in the UK this week.
Introducing 'Normal Person', Butler referred to The Reflektors as a 'fake band', mocking those who had always questioned Arcade Fire's credibility by saying because they want to art school and 'pretended to play guitars', 'pretended to make art", and 'pretended that playing guitars was art'.
After the show, the band performed a short DJ set.
Arcade Fire played:
Reflektor
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Flashbulb Eyes
Joan of Arc
You Already Know
We Exist
It's Never Over (Oh Orpheus)
Afterlife (started with an acapella version of My Body Is A Cage as the intro)
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Normal Person
Uncontrollable Urge (DEVO cover)
Here Comes The Night Time
Encore:
Crown of Love
Haïti
Arcade Fire continue their tour are The Reflektors with a second sold-out show at The Roundhouse tonight, before going on to play shows in Glasgow and Blackpool. Full tour dates are as follows:
Tue November 12th 2013 - LONDON Roundhouse
Fri November 15th 2013 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Sat November 16th 2013 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Wed November 27th 2013 - BLACKPOOL Empress Ballroom
Tickets to all dates are on sale now. For more information visit Gigwise gig tickets.
Below: Photos of Arcade Fire bringing Reflektor to The Roundhouse
Tags: Arcade Fire