Music

Arcade Fire Play Private Show of New Songs in Montreal

by Michael Joffe

June 6, 2010

Playing their first hometown show in three years [ed note: some say 2], Montreal’s Arcade Fire treated a room of around sixty people to a special private performance of 13 songs, many off their new album The Suburbs. According to Said The Gramophone, they’ve been rehearsing at the Ukrainian Federation, a venue which is know for some great Pop Montreal shows. And in what seems to be the ‘Arcade Fire’ veil of secrecy, only a few blurry twitter photos and a 16 second video of Win walking to his mic have found their way online from the show which took place at the abandoned Notman House. But that’s not entirely fair – it’s not so much a veil of secrecy as it is just the way this band seems to go about doing things. This was not a secret show where press was expected, it was a private one – presumably to play new music in front of friends on the cusp of what will most likely be months of intense touring. And make no mistake – this is a band that will headline a night at Madison Square Garden with Spoon opening in August. So, while I find the first two tastes of The Suburbs to be utterly disappointing, I can’t help but be swept up in Arcade Fire fever. I’ve watched that 16 second video numerous times, somehow expecting on one occasion for it to continue and miraculously reveal a full set, and I cannot wait until I see them at Osheaga. Check out the video and a photo of the set list below. If you happen to come across any more photos or video from this show, be sure to let us know.