Arcade Fire Play First Concert of 2017: Setlist + Video
Although they have yet to announce a new album, Arcade Fire took to the stage for the first time in 2017 last night. You can watch video from the performance and check out the setlist below.
As Consequence of Sound noted, the nine-song set took place at Montreal's KANPE Karnival, a celebration of Hatian culture, with the proceeds going to the KANPE Foundation. The organization's mission is to help rural families in Haiti become financially independent and escape poverty. Regine Chassagne, the group's multi-instrumentalist and wife of frontman Win Butler, is of Hatian descent and they have often donated time and money towards humanitarian work in Haiti.
Half of the original songs, including "Haïti" and their traditional closer "Wake Up," came from their 2004 debut Funeral, with Reflektor represented twice and only one song from both Neon Bible and The Suburbs. They also performed a cover of "Ke M Pa Sote" by the Hatian band Boukman Eksperyans.
Last year, Will Butler said that a new Arcade Fire record could possibly arrive in the spring, but also offering the caveat, "It’ll be done when it’s done." However, with that season a week away and many major acts already announcing albums with a summer release date, it's unlikely that they'll have it in time. And with Arcade Fire spending most of June and July in Europe, it doesn't seem like thy will have time to finish it up over the summer.
But we do know that they have new music written. Last year, they premiered a number of songs at a pop-up show in New Orleans last October that was defined as “a storm of dynamic, danceable rock" and “driven by percussive-heavy beats with a flavor of disco, had a sharp focus on weighty topics.” Back in January, they collaborated with Mavis Staples on "I Give You Power."
Arcade Fire, March 15, 2017 Setlist
1. "Windowsill"
2. "Haïti"
3. "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
4. "Afterlife
5. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"
6. "Rebellion (Lies)"
7. "Ke M Pa Sote"
8. "Here Comes the Night Time"
9. "Wake Up"
Arcade Fire Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness