Arcade Fire Ignites A Dance Party At The Forum!

Posted On 04 Aug 2014

Tag: Arcade Fire, Coachella, Dan Deacon, Inglewood, Joan Of Arc, Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out), Rebellion (Lies), Reflektor, Reflektor Tour, Régine Chassagne, Suburban War, The Forum, The Suburbs, Unicorns, win butler

One of the first things I realized in my excitement as I looked at my ticket for Arcade Fire was the dress code request which read: FORMAL ATTIRE / COSTUME. Even before that, I was incredibly excited to see the band, but this just made it even sweeter. You always know this band has a few crazy, creatively fun tricks up their sleeves and they certainly did not disappoint during their show on Friday night at The Forum.

The intention of the dress code was to invite joy into venues. Arcade Fire is not the first band that’s ever done this though. I remember the Beastie Boys doing a tour that was a black tie tour. But that’s only one of the aspects of the Beastie Boys that really separated them from a lot of their contemporaries. They brought these artistic things into something that was pretty mainstream and I think that’s exactly the vibe Arcade Fire wanted to ignite into the show and everything they do.

Because of the request, so many fans were dressed up and it felt as though Halloween came early, which made it such a beautiful spectacle seeing concert goers donning purple, green and silver wigs, including a guy in a mirror (yes, I said mirrored) suit. It was one of THE most creative crowds I have come across. It really does wonders for the vibe of the show. Arcade Fire knows how to get people to engage with their shows and treat it like a special event.

The band made an arena show seem strangely intimate and nothing like the rigidness of most arena concerts, where you’re constantly reminded that they’re going to be kicking you out soon, and you’re just here for a planned event. The statuesque frontman, Win Butler announced early in the show that the band had rented out The Forum after the concert and to “stay and have a dance party with us!” Win even came down from backstage after the show and joined the crowd for the dance party.

My crazy pants dance partner and I during the post concert dance party.

The night truly belonged to Arcade Fire. With just four albums, they are able to put together a set that flowed seamlessly. Between one of their songs, they had masked mini-me’s goofing through a fake performance of Guns ‘N Roses, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” while the real band dismissed them as “lame,” before going into their own cover of Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealin’” and the intro (really well executed) of “Welcome to the Jungle”.

Photo by: Nicole DeRosa

The highlights for me were: “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)“, “Rebellion (Lies)“, “Joan of Arc“, “Suburban War“, and of course, “The Suburbs” and the black light ribbon dance singer, Régine Chassagne did during “Sprawl II”. She reminded me of a giddy Bjork. Her sense of childlike wonder and fun on stage is infectious. The entire show had me marveling at how Arcade Fire can turn a concert into a fellowship. It was truly one of THE best shows I’ve been to yet!

About the Author

Nicole DeRosa joined the All Access Music Group family in February 2012. She loves the infectious energy and enthusiasm of the music industry and she feels right at home having music compliment her every day. Nicole blends her experience and skills which she has culled from her time working in New York as a photo researcher and editor at Entertainment Weekly and Harpers Bazaar Magazine. After New York, Nicole moved to London for school and there she stood in line for hours on Oxford Street to hear Paul McCartney play an impromptu concert on a rooftop. Another notable experience while living in London was her first time ever calling into a radio station, she won an invite to a record release party with the Beastie Boys for their album 'Ill Communication'. "I love London as it has such a vibrant and diverse music scene and I couldn't help but go out every night to check out gig after gig. It was a wonderful time." Living near the notable Sherpards Bush Empire music venue one of her most favorite concerts to date was seeing Bjork. Nicole has also worked for Walt Disney World in Product Development and later went on to work at Disney's Feature Animation Archives in Florida. Nicole has a passion for travel and adventure and has always wanted to live in California so she packed up and moved four years ago to the "left coast" and has been loving it ever since.