Arcade Fire at the Bridge School Benefit 2011

Ever since i saw them in Manchester a couple of months back, Arcade Fire have slowly worked their way up the ranks in my list of favourite bands. As good as they are on record, they are a simply band to be experienced live. Last night, they played the first night of Neil Young's annual Bridge School Benefit concert and it was a cracker of a set.

They played a fully acoustic set of seven songs, tweaking some of them to fit, giving songs like Intervention a softer, emotive feel compared to their usual fist pumping oomph. One of those was Empty Room, and they turned in an absolutely stunning version, slowing it down almost into a country waltz ballad. It was the highlight of the set for me, along with their cover of Helpless, joined by Neil Young himself on stage. Empty Room is at 7:30 on the video above, and Helpless is at 27:00.

43

I really should dust this off. But first i need some sleep.

Powderfinger

Powderfinger by Neil Young, by himself on his trusty acoustic. Love how different this feels from band version, feels so much more fragile and heartbreaking. Sure its missing that awesome riff, but this version brings you so much closer to the story Neil's telling, and it feels closer to your heart. And what a story. A story of a young man forced to protect his family, though its not clear from what. A civil war? A police crackdown? But once the 3 minutes are up, you feel like you've been through everything with him, up until he tells you to remember him.

Six to eight

Your fire makes it all worthwhile

From AFI's The Art of Drowning. The 13 year old version of myself used to rock so hard to this. In fact, AFI might have been the first band i was crazy about. Got me (thinking i was) all punk and stuff. Lucky i didn't go down the goth route too. Maybe i should catch up on some AFI.

Sound and Vision

From Bowie's classic record Low. It starts with these three snare shots that sound like your mind being cracked open, and what comes next is pure joy. The shimmery guitar, the unbelievably happy bass, and celestial synths that come in. Its contrasted with the agoraphobic lyrics that are in line with his classic Berlin paranoia. Simply one my favourite songs of all time, one of the best i've ever heard.

Think i'll pack it in

See the lonely boy, out on the weekend, trying to make it pay
Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and, can't begin to say

Doug Paisley's cover of Neil Young's Out On The Weekend. I was reading an old interview Neil did, and he was talking about how he wrote this song when he was head over heels in love. Its funny, because i've always related the song and specifically the two lines above to a feeling of loneliness.

But after reading what he said, my perspective on the song has changed totally. From my assumption that the "lonely boy" lost the girl he loved and can't imagine being happy again; to a warmer image of him being with her and being so full of joy that he doesn't know how to relate to and can't express it. Funny how words twist.

Straight to video

You are my centre when i spin away

Dubstep-ish remix of Radiohead's 'Videotape' by XxXy. Fuckin delightful.

We are the robots

Kraftwerk when they were in Singapore. Not being there is one of my life's greatest regrets.

God only knows

God only knows what i'd be without you.

Joe Grass's cover of a Beach Boys classic on pedal steel guitar. Amazing.

A lotta love

So if you're out there waiting
I hope you show up soon

A Case of You

James Blake's amazing Joni Mitchell cover. His voice reminds me so much of Antony Hegarty, so rich and beautiful.

A house falling in the sea

Since i've been really stuck in a non-writing and blogging mood for quite awhile, i've decided to just post random videos that i'm feeling at the moment. The wonders of youtube eh.

Radiohead always seem to pull out the best performances for the Jools Holland show. Thom's guitar that comes in midway just kicks me in the teeth everytime. That dissonant punch is kinda missing in other versions, like the Basement one, not that there are any bad versions of this song.

Ps. I do intend to pen my thoughts on the new Radiohead album soon. But as i said, seriously not in the mood to write anything at the moment