Antes de mais confesso que tenho um particular fraquinho por esta banda. Gosto de todos os seus discos e desde Paredes de Coura 2005 nunca perdi nenhum dos seus cinco concertos em terras lusas, sempre integrados em festivais.
Depois do cancelamento em 2010 devido à realização da cimeira da Nato em Lisboa, esta foi a primeira vez que os vi em nome próprio e que diferença faz. Ir a um concerto de Arcade Fire não é só ir para ouvir música. É cantar em coro, dançar e divertir à grande sem a limitação horária rígida de um festival. Ao contrário do que é, infelizmente cada vez mais vulgar, especialmente nos festivais de Verão, ali também não há lugar para pessoas desinteressadas que falam aos gritos com os parceiros do lado sobre coisas que nada têm a ver com o concerto e que incomodam quem quer desfrutar do concerto.
No palco, em forma de ringue de boxe montado no centro da arena, os pesos-pesados canadianos foram apresentados e entraram como se de um combate se tratasse. Depois do forte arranque com “Everything Now”, a banda passou em revista canções de todos os seus registos discográficos. Desde o primeiro minuto e durante todo o concerto (cerca de duas horas e meia), a adesão do público, que lotava a sala, manteve-se praticamente constante, acompanhando em coro, num ambiente efervescente e explosivo. Para além da qualidade da sua música, penso ser essa empatia com o público, uma verdadeira comunhão com quem os ouve, que os torna tão especiais ao vivo. O final, esse, foi apoteótico ao som de “Wake Up” e que se prolongou à medida que os músicos abandonavam o “ringue”, passando pela plateia continuando a cantar acompanhados pela secção de metais da Preservation Hall Jazz Band (que fizeram a primeira parte) na direção dos corredores de acesso aos camarins onde a festa continuou, até, com uma improvisação de “Rebel Rebel” de Bowie.
- TRANSLATION -
Victory by “Knockout”
First of all, I confess that I’m very keen of this band. I like all their records and since Paredes de Coura 2005 I watched all their concerts in music festivals. After the 2010 show was cancelled because of the Nato Summit in Lisbon, this was the first time I have ever seen them live without being part of a music festival and what difference it made. To go to an Arcade Fire concert is not only to listen to their music. It is to sing, dance and have fun without the rigid schedules of a music festival. There is also no place for disinterested people who talk with their friends about things that aren’t related to the music and that end up disturbing other people who want to enjoy the concert.
In stage, they present themselves as in a box ring in the center of the arena, the Canadian heavy-weights entered the stage like they were about to enter a fight. After the song start with “Everything Now” the band played songs from all their records. Since the first minute and during all the concert (that lasted about 2 hours and a half) the participation of the audience, that filled Campo Pequeno, was constant, singing and creating an explosive environment. Besides the quality of their music, I believe that it is the empathy that they manage to create with the audience that makes them such a special band when playing live. The end, was epic at the sound of “Wake Up” that lasted while the musicians left the “ring”, passing through the audience singing and accompanied by the metal section of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (that played in the first part of the show) while making their way to the backstage where the party continued with an improvisation of “Rebel Rebel” by Bowie.
A party that was visible in the screens and audible at the exterior of Campo Pequeno. After enduring the last five “rounds” the sixth was definitely a victory by “knock out”. Not that I lost in the true meaning of the word because in reality we all won, but because they left me completely satisfied and with nothing left to demand. It feels good to lose this way. In summer they will return to Paredes de Coura. See you soon.
A party that was visible in the screens and audible at the exterior of Campo Pequeno. After enduring the last five “rounds” the sixth was definitely a victory by “knock out”. Not that I lost in the true meaning of the word because in reality we all won, but because they left me completely satisfied and with nothing left to demand. It feels good to lose this way. In summer they will return to Paredes de Coura. See you soon.
TRADUÇÃO / TRANSLATION: CLÁUDIA ZAFRE
IMAGEM e VÍDEO / IMAGE and VIDEO: JOSÉ MARQUES
LOCAL / VENUE: CAMPO PEQUENO, Lisboa
DATA / DATE: 23 de Abril, 2018