A Case of the Clap
I went to see Arcade Fire last night. Or should that be The Arcade Fire? Anyway, the gig was great but I was quite bemused with the antics of the crowd.
Clapping. Constant clapping. This isn't Lambchop's fucking Singalong, this is one of the best live shows you are going to have the pleasure of seeing in this country this year and you're happy to stand there and pulverise your meaty palm together until you draw blood. From the mightiest anthemic rock song to the humblest ballad, the crowd kept at it. Beat beat beat clapping. That might cut it when you've got ten French-Canadians on stage roaring at you to wake up, but when they're playing you a personal delicate ballad it makes it sound like an Aphex Twin techno-mash-up. And why can't Irish people clap in time? If you're going to subject the musicians to such ignorant and neolithic noise-making, the least you could do is clap in time with the music . It is a true testament to the musicianship on show last night that they managed to keep time in the face of such adversity. You'd never have this at a Radiohead gig where people have to pass a written music theory exam to make the short-list for tickets.
I have also noticed that the CCTV generation believe that all events experienced must be documented in some way that's more reliable than the human brain. One girl near me recorded the whole gig on some kind of MP3 device. I'm sure she'll be very disappointed should she ever listen back to the clip-ridden crackled howling she managed to capture on her magic box. She seemed to believe she was getting a free "Arcade Fire: In Concert" album. Camera phones are also a must, especially if they sport a halogen flashlight. The great thing about these camera phones is that you can also take calls during the concert. Of course, if you want to communicate effectively during especially loud parts you must put a finger in one ear and crouch down low where the music cannot penetrate the crowd.
Yep, all in all a good concert. The Big Top in the Phoenix Park was superb. I can't wait for Bloc Party. Will the audience be so ridiculous? Of course they will. Support on the night is from Scottish neo-ska-punk-rock-parasuicide band Biffy Clyro and Foals, the latter of which I admittedly don't know much about. Here's hoping for a pleasant surprise.
Clapping. Constant clapping. This isn't Lambchop's fucking Singalong, this is one of the best live shows you are going to have the pleasure of seeing in this country this year and you're happy to stand there and pulverise your meaty palm together until you draw blood. From the mightiest anthemic rock song to the humblest ballad, the crowd kept at it. Beat beat beat clapping. That might cut it when you've got ten French-Canadians on stage roaring at you to wake up, but when they're playing you a personal delicate ballad it makes it sound like an Aphex Twin techno-mash-up. And why can't Irish people clap in time? If you're going to subject the musicians to such ignorant and neolithic noise-making, the least you could do is clap in time with the music . It is a true testament to the musicianship on show last night that they managed to keep time in the face of such adversity. You'd never have this at a Radiohead gig where people have to pass a written music theory exam to make the short-list for tickets.
I have also noticed that the CCTV generation believe that all events experienced must be documented in some way that's more reliable than the human brain. One girl near me recorded the whole gig on some kind of MP3 device. I'm sure she'll be very disappointed should she ever listen back to the clip-ridden crackled howling she managed to capture on her magic box. She seemed to believe she was getting a free "Arcade Fire: In Concert" album. Camera phones are also a must, especially if they sport a halogen flashlight. The great thing about these camera phones is that you can also take calls during the concert. Of course, if you want to communicate effectively during especially loud parts you must put a finger in one ear and crouch down low where the music cannot penetrate the crowd.
Yep, all in all a good concert. The Big Top in the Phoenix Park was superb. I can't wait for Bloc Party. Will the audience be so ridiculous? Of course they will. Support on the night is from Scottish neo-ska-punk-rock-parasuicide band Biffy Clyro and Foals, the latter of which I admittedly don't know much about. Here's hoping for a pleasant surprise.
posted by Prunly at 8:44 p.m.
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