160 -- Arcade Fire -- Sunday, August 17, 2014 -- Verizon Center -- DC

Let’s get my disappointment out of the way at the outset: they played almost no Neon Bible.  Getting to hear just one track from my favorite Arcade Fire album (also my first) was frustrating – especially when a few of the songs they played instead were second-rate.

That said, everything else about the show was awesome.  See why below: 

--- I like that they didn't start with “Reflektor;” “Afterlife” was an unexpected anthem.

--- Ha, Win Butler primed the crowd with “DC” chants so early.  Glad he did not fit the indie snob label.

--- Glad I was able to share the show with Mike Vance, Andrew Schmadel, and (in spirit) Matthue Rama, Marianne Ward, and Augusta McKenzie.  They seemed to enjoy it as well.

--- “Neighborhood 3 (Power Out).”  God, I've heard that so many times prepping after school.  Yet it was better live.

--- “Rebellion (Lies)”!!  Lol: Win threw a water bottle, and everyone dove for it.  “Sleeping is giving in, no matter what they tell ya.” 

--- Surprised I recognized and automatically head bobbed “Joan of Arc” from the new album.

--- “Getting Right,” an unreleased track off Reflektor.  So that’s why they didn’t release it...

--- When you've listened to an album a hundred times, you recognize and like minor songs like “Month of May.” Cool washed-out, trippy ending I hadn't noticed before.

--- “The Suburbs”: the first song that was actually less good live.  It has this corny, bouncy charm on the album; here it just felt limp.  Cool ending though, including an audience slow clap.

--- “Ready to Start”!!!  RHYTHM.  Vivid imagery as well: “The businessmen they drink my blood – like the kids in art school said they would.”

--- $1 from each ticket goes to Partners In Health.  Good for them.

--- “Neighborhood (Tunnels)”!!  Their first song, notttt my first time hearing it.  Listen to it every time I'm stressed.  Even better now when I'm stress free.

--- “No Cars Go”!!

--- What’s the “Haiti”an word for lackluster…

--- “Time we join the modern world and allow people to marry.”  I did not know that “We Exist” was a marriage song.

--- “Mountains II (Sprawl)”: nice change of pace.

--- HA: there are these human-size Obama, Biden, and Founding Fathers dancing on the front and back stages.  What's going on?!

--- Hahaha, Win just takes a selfie -- during “Reflektor.”  Get it?

--- “Normal Person”: unexpectedly great.  Worth the red confetti.  Plus, he just said, “Nice to be here at The Black Cat.”  What a reference!!!  Should have texted Matt DeCarlo in Richmond. 

--- “Here Comes the Nighttime.”  Mega confetti!  Best line I'd never noticed: “If there's no music in heaven, what's it for?”  So true.

--- “Wake Up”!!!  Should have texted Mike Erickson in Richmond. 

--- One thrown tambourine, two caught tambourines, and three lightly-tapped bongos: what an ending.

Grade: A-