Music: It's Getting Warmer

Arcade Fire takes a half step toward the big time

Lucy Hamblin / Retna Ltd.

Arcade Fire in concert at Judson Memorial Church, in New York City, February 13, 2007.

In 2005 Arcade Fire landed the dream gig for any new band: a few nights opening for U2. By appearances, it was an odd fit. Arcade Fire's seven members took the stage looking as if they just had just ridden out a hurricane in a trailer park. Instruments, hair and clothing were strewn everywhere. The set list, culled from their debut, Funeral, was full of songs about death played on accordion and mandolin. Later U2's the Edge would create endless spaces between guitar chords, while Bono drove metaphorical trucks through them, but somehow Arcade Fire's patchwork symphonies roared almost as loudly....

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