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Arcade Fire Tease Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ in Washington

Arcade Fire Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit George Washington Video

The long and winding road of Arcade Fire’s post-Reflektor tour landed them in the wonderfully named Pacific Northwest town George, Washington Friday night, and as usual they took on a track by a local legend. Before launching into their own glitzy “Rococo,” famed Nirvana fan Win Butler wove a few lines of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” into the intro. His take is hazy and muted, but still an interesting way to pay tribute to a formative influence. He did the same at the end of the performances, teasing just a few more lines. It’s not your stereotypical Cobain impression, but still worth watching above via Consequence of Sound.

For more recent Arcade Fire ephemera, watch their covers of the Dead Kennedys in Santa Barbara, Jane’s Addiction, Guns N’ Roses, and the Beverly Hills Cop Theme in Los Angeles, the Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen in London, and R.E.M. in Atlanta.