Arcade Fire’s Reflektor Tour at United Center, Chicago

The entire show was an experience to remember! The dress code was formal/costume. There were a lot of masquerade-type costumes, some really out there costumes, and others just dressed to impress. Even the band was dressed up!

Prior to the show we were treated to the musical stylings of DEVO and digital composer between sets. As we were patiently awaiting the band to take stage, we took notice of all the mirrors on the ceiling and giant balloon drop. I also noticed cannons for confetti! I knew it would be a good show! Arcade Fire was introduced by a man in a reflective disco-ball suit with light refracting in all directions leading to the opening song Reflektor. They went on to play several songs from Suburbs with Reflektor songs generously sprinkled throughout the set. I knew Arcade Fire had been doing a different cover song for each city they played in. I came rushing back from a bathroom break to find MAVIS STAPLES on stage! I was pleasantly surprised, and kind of shocked that not many people in the audience around me knew her name. Do your self a favor and Google her name if you aren’t familiar.

Anyway, I have more photos to upload, but here are a few pics for you to check out.

The honeycomb mirrored ceiling

Opened with title track, “Reflektor”

What I thought were giant mirrors, were screens for video projection

I love his jacket

The best place to view the concert, from the floor section!

It’s just a reflektor

Even the Drums were reflective

Even the Drums were reflective (better image)

Steve and I

Just a Reflektor

To be honest, I needed to listen to the title track a few times before I ever even gave the rest of the album a fair chance. I’ve never been a huge fan of Arcade Fire until recently. I even went through Arcade Fire’s albums chronologically to compare. While Suburbs is a spectacular album, Reflektor is with out a doubt their best work.

The more I listen to the album, the more I fall in love with it. Reflektor is like “Sell your soul to the Devil” good. There is definitely a theme played throughout this record. Reflection: deep consideration during meditation, an image, representation, or counterpart. With the dark you have light, materials that are shiny and fracture easily, a mirrored image.

The songs dissect the meaning of reflection. They make you contemplate life and then dance and have fun, dance and have more fun, and end in contemplation. The design is magnificent. The album cover is black ink printed on a reflective material that has a rainbow sheen in the light. The inside slip covers: one dark, one light. The vinyl labels, one black, one white. Nothing can be reflective without light for we would not know light without the darkness. The icing on the cake: the end of the album is a reflection of the album being played backwards – play it in reverse and it is the album forwards. Mind = Blown.

I am going to see Arcade Fire’s Reflektor tour, live at the United Center in August. I will be sure to share my experience!