“Infinite Content” indeed. That phrase not only serves as the title of an Arcade Fire song from its stupendous new album; it also more than aptly describes the spectacle of a concert the Canadian indie-rock outfit delivered at Tampa’s USF Sundome on Friday night.
A performance that was as visually overwhelming as it was sonically intricate and challenging is one that most in attendance won’t soon stop talking about…and with plenty of good reason.
After a short and sharp 40 minute set from the recently reformed Canadian indie rock quartet Wolf Parade that included some selections from its soon to be released fourth full length album Cry Cry Cry, the transformation of the large, square elevated stage at the center of the arena floor began happening.
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Playlist: Listen to every song Arcade Fire played at Tampa's USF Sun Dome on September 22, 2017
The massive platform on which the long-awaited Tampa Bay debut performance by the beloved headliners would occur began to be prepared. Jam packed with an enormous amount of instruments scattered on it, stagehands began to install hanging ropes around the perimeter of the stage to resemble a real life boxing ring and, in a move of pure, exaggerated theatrics, the nine-piece band made its entrance through the crowd, in true boxing match tradition, as its own piece of music, “Everything Now (Continued),” blared behind an announcer’s barked introductions.
The night had already taken a path of histrionics and high production value, and the band hadn’t even played a note yet. But when Arcade Fire began, it quickly made it clear what the main event of the evening was all about. Launching into a spectacular, nearly two-hour set that was replete with plenty of wow moments, Arcade Fire made it crystal clear that its first appearance in the area was worth the wait.
The already tall and lanky mastermind behind this outfit, lead singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Win Butler stood atop a raised pedestal on the revolving riser where drummer Jeremy Gara was seated at his kit. Band members shifted and traded spots on the stage to face the audience of nearly 4,000 attendees from all four of the square stage’s sides as rich, vibrant images danced across the HD screens that hung above each portion of the stage. Again, while there was no shortage of stunning visuals, it was the largely the band’s sonic pastiche of sounds that truly served as the center of it all.
“Signs of Life,” one of the many disco-tinged songs from the band’s most recent record, sounded bolder, more bass-heavy and funkier live. As sharp time lapse photographic images of the Everything Now album cover’s panoramic vista appeared on stage, the band was laying it down on the stage below and inciting the dancing that was spontaneously breaking out across the crowded floor of the venue and throughout plenty of the seated areas as well.
As dramatic swaths of intensely colored spotlights and pulsating strobe lights penetrated the room or tongue in cheek infomercial-like videos beamed on screens, Arcade Fire never allowed gimmickry to overshadow its presentation. Making sure to represent all five of its superb albums throughout the night, one of the many highlights came with the downright jaw-dropping presentation of “Here Comes The Night Time” from the acclaimed 2013 release Reflektor. As many longtime concert goers in the area know, the Sun Dome was, for many years, a source of frustration due to the poor acoustics and sound issues it used to be plagued with. Not the case anymore; as the sonic intricacies of the song unfolded, every nuance and subtle movement could be heard and felt clearly thanks to the much-improved upgrade and design of the arena.
Butler quickly dipped his toes in the pool of political rhetoric by speaking out about voting rights laws as they currently stand here in our home state. An impassioned cry of blatant racism surrounding the topic added fuel to Win’s brief outburst which was curtailed by his own admission of “That’s all I’m gonna say on the soapbox tonight”.
[Side note: the band saved their political messages for a small yet fiery crowd that assembled at the after-show event that occurred at Ybor City music venue Crowbar. The event was a political awareness rally that ended with Win Butler DJ-ing a fun set of disco and dance music.]
Other addresses to the crowd included sympathetic expressions regarding those affected by natural disasters across the globe and particularly the residents of Texas, the state where Butler and his younger brother Will once lived. The most heartfelt and genuine delivery came when the elder Butler sincerely spoke of the band’s long absence from our hometown.
“We’ve been wanting to play here for a really long time…thank you for waiting,” he gushed before being instantly met with a wall of raucous applause and a feverish reaction from the mostly under-30 aged audience.
Win’s spouse and integral piece of the AF equation Régine Chassagne is almost enough of a show on her own. The versatile singer and multi-instrumentalist added texture, harmonies and depth to each and every number, but really stole the spotlight for her solo vocal on the infectious dance tune “Electric Blue” that found her leaving the stage to wander through the sea of fans surrounding the stage while singing and never missing a note in the process.
Win Butler also made his way through the crowd for the first encore of the night, an absolutely marvelous reading of the moody, “We Don’t Deserve Love” which, for all intents and purposes, might have been the absolute highlight of the night that was chock full of amazing moments.
The night ended with a final encore of “Wake Up,” a monumental song from the band’s essential 2004 debut album, Funeral which seemed like a fitting nod to those who’ve stuck by this band since its inception and have waited more than a decade to see them grace a local stage.
While the wait to see this groundbreaking band has been long, based on the warm ovation they were showered with for the course of the night, it’s safe to venture that we’ll become a regular tour stop for them in the future.
See more of Camren’s photos from the show below and listen to a playlist featuring songs from the set here.
Setlist
Everything Now
Signs of Life
Rebellion (Lies)
Here Comes the Night Time
Keep the Car Running
No Cars Go
Electric Blue
Put Your Money on Me
Neon Bible
Intervention
Ocean of Noise
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (Continued)
Ready to Start
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Reflektor
Afterlife
Creature Comfort
—
We Don't Deserve Love
Everything Now (Continued)
Wake Up
