Arcade Fire, Manchester Arena. 3rd September 2022

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Why am I here after this weeks revelations? I’m not going to get into the accusations made against Win Butler, I’d be even worse writing about that than I would be about live music. The short answer though is simple, I want to be here. I certainly won’t defend Butler, it sounds like he’s been monumentally stupid and hurt people, but I’m here for the other seven members of the band. Sure he’s the frontman, but what I love about Arcade Fire is that massive soul hugging sound… and he doesn’t do that on his own. I’ve paused my attending Manchester Psych Fest to come to Manchester Arena and it’s a bit jarring being here. This is the 11th set I’ve watched today and I’m a little tired. I kinda wish I’d bought a seat. They’re mostly all taken it seems, but there’s a lot of standing space on the floor. It’s half empty! When they play ‘Ready to Start’ I’m sure I’m in the right place though. Balancing epic with intimate, I would want to be contained by seating. ‘Crown of Love’ feels poignant with its “please forgive me” lyric and I catch a few people looking at each other with an eyebrow raised. The charm offensive is in play though. It’s a crowd pleasing set of hits. The lights set to disco for ‘Afterlife’, but fuck me when ‘Reflektor’ lands, they sound every bit as bombastic as you’d expect. That bass ripping through your soul. An Arcade Fire gig is a party really and with all this extra floor space, everyone can dance around, it’s pretty bloody fantastic. I’ve only listened to the new record We once, it’s great but not knowing the songs, they do fall a little flatter. For others too it seems, but the band are hell bent on not letting up the pace and with 8 of them up there, they’ve the energy to keep what’s a pretty astounding set banging along at breakneck speed. ‘The Lightening’ gets a huge applause, before we’re thanked, the stage is bathed in red light and ‘Intervention’ gets going, Butler strumming an acoustic, everyone singing along “working for the church while your family dies”. This is what arena gigs are about. I sometimes forget how huge some of these songs feel and how much I love the lyrics, ‘The Suburbs’ “grab your mothers keys we’re leaving” along side that stomping rhythm.  Just…. Oh JUST!! It’s hard not to get the impression that it’s the Régine lead songs that really punch. When she takes to the front of the stage, there’s a wave of positivity that pulses through the place. She’s an infectious whirlwind and I’m genuinely taken aback when she runs down the side of the floor space and I get a brief high five. ‘Everything Now’ is just beautiful. No other word for it, just beautiful. Until some twat throws a beer. Always one. I can’t remember the last time I saw the Arena with people allowed to stand. It’s been seating every time I’ve been here since lockdown. It is So. Much. BETTER! It also makes more sense when the band appear on a satellite stage in the centre of the floor for the encore. Which does include a cover of New Order’s ‘Temptation’. I hate it when bands feel like coming to Manchester requires this, but they do it well. I’ll forgive them anything after they finish with ‘Wake Up’. It’s live music gold dust. A genuine I was there moment. To be so close and them sounding so magnificent. It’s brilliant. As they thank the crowd and leave the stage, I find myself walking out with them, side by side. It’s quite surreal, but then, this has been one of those days. So glad I came. Now for those following the thread, it’s back to Manchester Psych Fest, where we pick up with Japanese Television at Yes…