TMS2787
03/04/08, 12:36 AM
Arcade Fire/Colin Steston - Barack Obama Rally
Monday March 3, 2008
Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH
Two Shows
Win Butler, lead of the Arcade Fire has a been a very big supporter of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama for a while now. He and three other members of the band, fresh off tour, made the fourteen hour trip from their hometown to play two different Ohio cities in two nights and luckily Cleveland was one of them. The Arcade Fire has only played once in Cleveland, almost four years ago. I was really looking forward to finally being able to see them. Not once, but twice.
The first show started with a little introduction from Case Western Reserve University (who was originally suppose to house the show) Students for Obama members. The second show had a introduction from one of the campings coordinators, who also spoke mid-way through the first set for The Arcade Fire.
Colin Steston opened both shows with a two song set. He was saxophone and nothing else on the first song and another instrument I can not remember for the second song. Both sets where exactly the same but where really cool and different.
The Arcade Fire came on both times just as Colin was done. They were simply wonderful for both shows. The first show was a bit longer but I'd have to say the second one was better. Both of them had a lot of energy, the band sounded dead on, and Win talked a lot in between songs about Barack Obama, the election, and all things of the sort. During the second show though he actually used the megaphone that was on stage (it was not used once during the first show), and he played and sang in the middle of the crowd for once song, which was really cool. And to end the show all of the band members unplugged and sang through the megaphones. Which was simply amazing. During both shows they all seemed excited, really happy, and cheery. With the energy they had you wouldn't think they just came off a year on the road. During the second set for some reason Win got a bit violent. He threw a couple microphone stands around, broke a string, and threw the thing holding his sheet/lyric music and set list across the stage. The whole band wasn't there but it sounded just as good and I can't even imagine what it'd be like for them to be all to be there.
Show 1:
Heroes [David Bowie Cover]
Intervention
Gimmie Some Truth [John Lennon Cover]
No Cars Go
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Wake Up
-----
Change Is Gonna Come [Sam Cooke Cover]
Show 2:
Intervention
(Antichrist Television Blues)
Gimmie Some Change [John Lennon Cover]
Change Is Gonna Come [Sam Cooke Cover]
Rebellion (Lies)
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
-----
Wake Up
Both shows where free and the second one was suppose to be only for people with tickets but I manged to get in because I got back inline after the first one and a girl ended up handing me a ticket anyways. I was freaking out because I didn't think I would be able to get in because I didn't know you needed tickets for the second show (or that there was definitely one until we got in for the first one). Both shows were free, 18+ and packed and I think the first one was over capicty. It was a good tool to get people out to vote tomorrow and get them fired up. After the second show Win was at the volunteer table getting people to sign up. I went shook his hand, and thanked him for playing such wonderful shows for a good cause. Such a good day.
Monday March 3, 2008
Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH
Two Shows
Win Butler, lead of the Arcade Fire has a been a very big supporter of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama for a while now. He and three other members of the band, fresh off tour, made the fourteen hour trip from their hometown to play two different Ohio cities in two nights and luckily Cleveland was one of them. The Arcade Fire has only played once in Cleveland, almost four years ago. I was really looking forward to finally being able to see them. Not once, but twice.
The first show started with a little introduction from Case Western Reserve University (who was originally suppose to house the show) Students for Obama members. The second show had a introduction from one of the campings coordinators, who also spoke mid-way through the first set for The Arcade Fire.
Colin Steston opened both shows with a two song set. He was saxophone and nothing else on the first song and another instrument I can not remember for the second song. Both sets where exactly the same but where really cool and different.
The Arcade Fire came on both times just as Colin was done. They were simply wonderful for both shows. The first show was a bit longer but I'd have to say the second one was better. Both of them had a lot of energy, the band sounded dead on, and Win talked a lot in between songs about Barack Obama, the election, and all things of the sort. During the second show though he actually used the megaphone that was on stage (it was not used once during the first show), and he played and sang in the middle of the crowd for once song, which was really cool. And to end the show all of the band members unplugged and sang through the megaphones. Which was simply amazing. During both shows they all seemed excited, really happy, and cheery. With the energy they had you wouldn't think they just came off a year on the road. During the second set for some reason Win got a bit violent. He threw a couple microphone stands around, broke a string, and threw the thing holding his sheet/lyric music and set list across the stage. The whole band wasn't there but it sounded just as good and I can't even imagine what it'd be like for them to be all to be there.
Show 1:
Heroes [David Bowie Cover]
Intervention
Gimmie Some Truth [John Lennon Cover]
No Cars Go
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Wake Up
-----
Change Is Gonna Come [Sam Cooke Cover]
Show 2:
Intervention
(Antichrist Television Blues)
Gimmie Some Change [John Lennon Cover]
Change Is Gonna Come [Sam Cooke Cover]
Rebellion (Lies)
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
-----
Wake Up
Both shows where free and the second one was suppose to be only for people with tickets but I manged to get in because I got back inline after the first one and a girl ended up handing me a ticket anyways. I was freaking out because I didn't think I would be able to get in because I didn't know you needed tickets for the second show (or that there was definitely one until we got in for the first one). Both shows were free, 18+ and packed and I think the first one was over capicty. It was a good tool to get people out to vote tomorrow and get them fired up. After the second show Win was at the volunteer table getting people to sign up. I went shook his hand, and thanked him for playing such wonderful shows for a good cause. Such a good day.