Jim Clark
04-22-2011, 06:48 AM
DARY! Barney Stinson rules.
Clearly most folks were there to see AF but the outdoor venue was still about 2/3 full to catch The National. We thought that maybe The National rocked a bit harder then they had a couple of months earlier at the Uptown but I think there was a better chance that it was just louder. Apparently Matt had shot himself in the foot the previous day but he still managed to hobble around just fine. The best part of the show was this time they did finally play About Today, in honor of Gerard Smith the TV On The Radio bassist who had succumbed to lung cancer earlier in the day. A somber moment to be sure.
Personally I think that the main and opening acts were reversed but based on the capacity crowd and the energy inspired by Arcade Fire clearly demonstrates that I was in the minority on that belief. AF opened with Month of May which was clearly a more focused and coherent version than at the Grammy finale. That rendition inspired more than 1 wtf's around the country. The real barn burner though was awe-inspiring second song, Ready to Start. I'm looking for a bootleg just to experience that again.
The AF was hot, no doubt about it. Things did bog down just a bit around Rococo and a couple of the more subdued tracks about 1/3 of the way through. Still, AF plays what is probably an insignificant KC show just like it was their first and perhaps last gig ever. Their legend will continue to grow based on their live energy alone. Also very cool was Win pointing out how lucky they were to have The National open for them. He also mentioned that LCD Soundsystem opened for them the last time they came to KC. "you guys realize that opening acts aren't usually this good, right?" Win asked with conviction. We know. All in all, an epic evening - a show for the ages and every other cliche' you can think of.
Oh, and yes, I was called "sir" on more than one occasion : ) I need to get me some hipster specs or grecian formula. Maybe both!
Set Lists:
The National: Anyone's Ghost; Mistaken for Strangers; Blood Buzz Ohio; Slow Show; Squalor Victoria; Afraid of Everyone; Conversation 16; Abel; England; Fake Empire; Mr. November; Terrible Love; About Today.
Arcade Fire: Month of May; Ready to Start; Rebellion (Lies); Neighborhood No.2 (Laika); No Cars Go; Haiti; Empty Room; Neighborhood No. 4 (7 Kettles); Rococo; The Suburbs; The Suburbs (Continued); Intervention; We Used to Wait; Keep the Car Running; Neighborhood No. 1 (Tunnels); Wake Up. Encore: Neighborhood No. 3 (Power Out); Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains).
Clearly most folks were there to see AF but the outdoor venue was still about 2/3 full to catch The National. We thought that maybe The National rocked a bit harder then they had a couple of months earlier at the Uptown but I think there was a better chance that it was just louder. Apparently Matt had shot himself in the foot the previous day but he still managed to hobble around just fine. The best part of the show was this time they did finally play About Today, in honor of Gerard Smith the TV On The Radio bassist who had succumbed to lung cancer earlier in the day. A somber moment to be sure.
Personally I think that the main and opening acts were reversed but based on the capacity crowd and the energy inspired by Arcade Fire clearly demonstrates that I was in the minority on that belief. AF opened with Month of May which was clearly a more focused and coherent version than at the Grammy finale. That rendition inspired more than 1 wtf's around the country. The real barn burner though was awe-inspiring second song, Ready to Start. I'm looking for a bootleg just to experience that again.
The AF was hot, no doubt about it. Things did bog down just a bit around Rococo and a couple of the more subdued tracks about 1/3 of the way through. Still, AF plays what is probably an insignificant KC show just like it was their first and perhaps last gig ever. Their legend will continue to grow based on their live energy alone. Also very cool was Win pointing out how lucky they were to have The National open for them. He also mentioned that LCD Soundsystem opened for them the last time they came to KC. "you guys realize that opening acts aren't usually this good, right?" Win asked with conviction. We know. All in all, an epic evening - a show for the ages and every other cliche' you can think of.
Oh, and yes, I was called "sir" on more than one occasion : ) I need to get me some hipster specs or grecian formula. Maybe both!
Set Lists:
The National: Anyone's Ghost; Mistaken for Strangers; Blood Buzz Ohio; Slow Show; Squalor Victoria; Afraid of Everyone; Conversation 16; Abel; England; Fake Empire; Mr. November; Terrible Love; About Today.
Arcade Fire: Month of May; Ready to Start; Rebellion (Lies); Neighborhood No.2 (Laika); No Cars Go; Haiti; Empty Room; Neighborhood No. 4 (7 Kettles); Rococo; The Suburbs; The Suburbs (Continued); Intervention; We Used to Wait; Keep the Car Running; Neighborhood No. 1 (Tunnels); Wake Up. Encore: Neighborhood No. 3 (Power Out); Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains).