Back home in NY after a fantastic weekend from start to finish in Edinburgh.
I sent the post from right after the show from my phone so couldn't really go into detail but one of my initial thoughts - echoed by almost everyone on here - was that us
adoreurs de Regine were made very happy last Thursday! Think that's the most lively and engaged I've ever seen her throughout a set. She was just so clearly into the occasion - as was the entire band - that it was a joy to watch. Would've loved them to hear them do "Empty Room" again considering how on form she was but I won't complain. Our seats in block 15 were excellent but the left rear portion of the stage was blocked from view - obviously a drag when Regine was on her own drum kit but fine when she was on Jeremy's.
Personally very happy that Laika made it back into the set; thankfully reinstated over the last couple of weeks - whew.
Wouldn't have been the same without it. Also very happy that Rebellion was the closer - as fun as Sprawl II is (and it has closed a bunch of shows over the last year), Rebellion (or Wake Up, of course) is a far better choice.
Felt a little bad for Win as he looked like he was seriously debating the crowd body surf during "We Used To Wait" but realized (probably rightly) he might not make it back to the stage. But aside from that, everyone was exuberant and just let the setting lift them up (though was anyone else just a little worried for Will there at the end?). And what a setting! Great crowd, I loved the new stands, thought the sound and lighting were excellent and of course, the castle backdrop wasn't too shabby, was it? **** me.
Best Arcade Fire show I've seen? Hmmmmm - not sure I can say that. But certainly one of the best gigs - best occasions - I've been lucky enough to experience in this lifetime.
And not for nothing but oh how I smiled when Bryan Ferry *didn't* getting cannon fire after
his gig at the castle on Saturday night...
