Pace on Earth

Keep The Car Running

I'll set the scene. I left work on Friday with no real plans for the weekend beyond a friday happy hour at the rugby club and a practice on Saturday. I went to the club to find that no one but the party planners were all that keen on showing up for a party where the theme was "Come pay your dues" - who would have guessed? I was so dejected I called Wheat and we decided to join the Hurricane Bardsley for a beer. One bar turned to two and then to three. The last stop on the impromptu crawl was the Phoenix and it was there that I met a couple of girls who told me they had an extra ticket to the Arcade Fire show in Montreal the next day. They asked me if I wanted to come. I said I couldn't really miss practice, to which they responded "why are we talking about PRACTICE?". They basically called me chicken and I was Marty MacFly. So I went to Montreal on Saturday morning to see Arcade Fire.

We checked in to our hotel and the girls went to do some shopping. Jason and I decided to go get some drinks for the hotel room before the show. We had dilly of a pickle of a time finding a depanneur and had to pull into the nearest watering hole to quench our thirst. It was a very friendly spot and they even gave us directions to the nearest SAQ. We got back to the hotel, had a drink and headed to the Metro to head to the show.

We got there early, thereby bucking my streak of boycotting opening bands at a little under two years (the Hip opened for the Stones). I was reminded why I boycott opening bands. Arcade Fire came on at about 9:45.

(Reason I love Youtube #71 - this is actually from the show.

I would be lying if I said I was a huge fan prior to this show. I had heard their stuff but never really got into it. This show changed that. It was truly impressive. They filled the stage with 8 people and those 8 people filled the arena with sound. They are very talented and switch between instruments constantly; although I found it hard to notice anything as I was mesmerised by the violinist's thighs.

I think this video gives you a good idea of the sound they were putting out.


It was actually an awesome show; the crowd was very into it which shouldn't surprise because Montreal is Arcade Fire's hometown. They are currently one of the most hyped bands going but as much as I don't like hype I do like that the international hip hype of this band points people to what is unquestionably one of the coolest cities in the world. The shoe fits Montreal.



We spent Sunday morning in Old Montreal and as a final topper to the trip I was able to score a hug from this guy who was giving them away for free!

It was a spontaneous whirlwind trip but well worth it. It was, however, alot of driving and when I arrived home I said the same thing the lead singer said on Saturday night - "It's fucking good to be home".

Pace out.

Labels: Limo Trip

posted by Vitamin S @ 7:10 p.m.