Review: Arcade Fire @ Greek Theatre, L.A.

Montreal's Arcade Fire are truly on fire, as far as sales and critical kudos and what-not. On the second night of a two-night stand at the beautiful Greek, the ten-some (dectet?) got off to an unusually slow start (worsened by the venue's seriously low volume). Likewise, the crowd seemed curiously aloof for the set's first section. Whether it can be blamed on tour ennui, or the unusually chilly SoCal evening, the band's usually explosive live show was simply great instead of MIND-BLOWING. Things picked up about halfway through and the crowd duly responded. Highlights included the half-dozen or so songs from their full-length debut Funeral, while a number of the newer tracks from Neon Bible don't seem to have quite the same impact. Stage banter was kept to a minimum until singer Win Butler recounted the band's recent trip to "The Price is Right." Later, after jumping down into the crowd, the band beckoned Butler back onstage with a hearty "Win Butler! Come on down!!!" and a glockenspiel take on the show's theme. It was fun. For all there semi-pretentious doom and gloom, Arcade Fire can be really FUN. Alas, they were just sorta fun on this night.