We drove down to Calgary on the day of the concert and like a keener I went down to the Stampede grounds to check out the GA line up. Sadly, the kindly, older gentleman at the gate had never heard of "The Arcade Fires Band" so he checked his list and told me..."The Fires Band doesn't start until tonight, you have to come back later..."
I did my best to explain the intricacies of General Admission process to this fellow, "but there will be fans in line already so if I could just...." and while I spoke the look on his face told me, 'shush now, he's never going to let you in....'
And he didn't (There was a line up of hard core fans that I met later, but they walked in and did not have to deal with the gatekeeper). So, plan B, I went over to get my friend JT and he was reluctant to go back when I wanted to so by the time we got there they were just about to open the gates. I met some of my fellow U2 fans in line, which came as no shock to me.
We piled to the front of the GA (Edgeside) and with only 2 other people in front of us and I was pretty impressed with our spot given we had just arrived. Then the wait began and for me it was business as usual but there was a moment where I turned to JT and said, "seriously are you just going to complain the whole night?" GA is really all about patience. I have learned to wait it out because it is worth it, but JT was not so sure, and I knew I could not convince him, we'd have to wait for the show to start for him to appreciate it. And he did. Oh...he did.
The opening band, Calexico--and I forgot my sombrero--played an accordion and all manner of odd instruments! Bizarre.
Listen, I knew I was in for a great show, I had seen Arcade Fire on Austin City Limits and even through my TV I could tell it was something special, but HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
The energy level they exude is unbelievable and the way their live show builds in intensity is really incredible. They fired up a phenomenal set list and we were off!
Ready to Start
Month of May
Keep the Car Running
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haïti
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Modern Man
Rococo
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (Continued)
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Ocean of Noise (with Calexico)
We Used to Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Encore:
Intervention
Suburban War
Month of May
Keep the Car Running
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haïti
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Modern Man
Rococo
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (Continued)
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Ocean of Noise (with Calexico)
We Used to Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Encore:
Intervention
Suburban War
Wake Up
Actually, I found myself really enjoying the new songs the most! The ethereal Sprawl II still sticks in my mind, it was so beautiful, almost haunting. 
Wim is on the piano in this one...loved that, they are all over the place! The last song of the night was Wake Up when I look at this I can't believe how awesome it was to sing that with everybody, I was fist pumping and singing..."ooooooooh, oooooh, ooooooooh, oh, oh, oh, oooooooohhhh... At the 3:24 mark I thought I was going to bounce right out...the whole floor pulsated with people there!
When Regine steps forward at 5:15 she touches my hand in there, I told her I loved her. LOL! I was all high off the concert....seriously concerts are like my biggest addiction....that song, it just explodes! The passion they play with, it is phenomenal. (I need better adjectives, there is nothing I can find to describe how it hits you in the chest!)
I loved the whole show, it went really fast and was over before I knew it. The most intense song was Rococco...really intense. More than I ever could have imagined. Wim (lead singer) got really focused before he started and it was very powerful. A night I will never forget.....Song Du Jour ~ No Cars Go by Arcade Fire
