I’ve already squealed and hollered all over the internet and all over Sydney about how amazing last night was.

Arcade Fire, Sydney, January 22, 2008.

Last night goes down in my gigging history of one of the greatest shows ever. Broken Social Scene (U2 and Radiohead don’t count as I’m biased) at the Metro ‘06 has been held very highly up until this point and last night, the traveling band of merry Canadians (and some Americans) totally blew the lid off that and anything else I’ve ever seen.

I have never experienced a crowd SO into a band and a gig at The Enmore before. The place went nuts and rightly so. People are crazy for this band. A perfect moment occurred illustrating this point just before the show started. The lovely Dan Boud was doing his thing down the front as he does and leant over to see the setlist. He then said to me “Manda, first song…” and the whole front row of people screamed “No!!!” and covered their ears instantly in protest. It was hilarious. I still knew it would be Wake Up from Daniel’s code however, so I knew we were in for an awesome show from that moment.

And sure enough, out they came to the most amazing intensity I’ve ever witnessed at The Enmore, smiling and waving to the crowd. Wake Up certainly did just that to us and the absolute emotion, power, passion and love that this band have for their music, for playing with each other and for performing for us for the first time, left a giant thumping ache in my chest. I actually shed a few tears during Wake Up. It was just THAT good.

Win Butler is a freakin rockstar. Who would have thought that the big, long haired, size 28 booted powerhouse of a man, could be so taunting and able to have the crowd in front of him squealing every time he came near them? He threw himself into the crowd, held our hands and sweated all over us. Between his mic stand and Richard and Will having drumming battles below us, being in the front was well worth the wait.

I fell in love with a girl called Regine last night. She prowls and flits all over the stage like a cat, pulls faces and smiles with a happiness you rarely see at indie gigs. The unit that is the Arcade Fire is infectious. They belt out songs like its the last night of their life and they are going to make damn sure its the best they will ever do.

Will’s disturbingly smashed up drum reads “GO BIG OR GO HOME” and that is them to a T. The energy and passion they obviously bring to every show is nothing but blood, sweat and tears of absolute dedication to the band and their audience. They loved every minute of it as much as we all did.

If you want to read about which songs were played and how they played them, go read Sean’s much better review. All I can say is that the neighbourhood songs went off. Keep the cars running was as insane as I’d hoped every time I jump around my house listening to that song.

I left that place absolutely beaming with utter joy. This is what music is about, this is why live shows are in existence, this is what that magic that you can’t ever really explain to your friends who just don’t get it is, this is why music is written and performed.

I’ve only got a few shots up so far but there will be more. Off to Bjork tonight!