Grammy Kings Arcade Fire Play Secret Gig!

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"Ready to Start"!


Sunday night at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Montreal indie collective Arcade Fire performed to their biggest audience yet -- more than 26 million TV viewers. But two days earlier, the band rocked a secret warm-up gig for one of their smallest crowds in years: 500 very lucky fans at L.A.'s tiny Ukrainian Culture Center -- and SPIN was there to capture all the action!

The former SPIN cover stars, who won the Album of the Year Grammy for their chart-topping LP The Suburbs, ripped through 15 songs in 90 minutes with a furious punk bluster: "We can't tell you how good for the spirit it is to play a small show like this," frontman Win Butler told the crowd. [Via MTV]

The eight-piece band focused on tracks off their new album, including "Month of May" and "We Used to Wait," along with older fan favorites like "Rebellion (Lies)" and "No Cars Go." Squeezed onto the small stage, the band was dripping with sweat as they pounded on their instruments for the packed audience, including many crowd surfers. Butler called it "the most out-of-control show ever."

SPIN contributing photographer Graeme Flegenheimer was on hand. See eight pics from the show.

START THE GALLERY >>>>

Setlist:
Month of May
Rebellion (Lies)
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haiti
City With No Children
Intervention
Suburban War
Wake Up
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
We Used to Wait

Encore:
Ready to Start
Keep the Car Running
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

February 14, 2011
Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • "Ready to Start"!


    Sunday night at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Montreal indie collective Arcade Fire performed to their biggest audience yet -- more than 26 million TV viewers. But two days earlier, the band rocked a secret warm-up gig for one of their smallest crowds in years: 500 very lucky fans at L.A.'s tiny Ukrainian Culture Center -- and SPIN was there to capture all the action!

    The former SPIN cover stars, who won the Album of the Year Grammy for their chart-topping LP The Suburbs, ripped through 15 songs in 90 minutes with a furious punk bluster: "We can't tell you how good for the spirit it is to play a small show like this," frontman Win Butler told the crowd. [Via MTV]

    The eight-piece band focused on tracks off their new album, including "Month of May" and "We Used to Wait," along with older fan favorites like "Rebellion (Lies)" and "No Cars Go." Squeezed onto the small stage, the band was dripping with sweat as they pounded on their instruments for the packed audience, including many crowd surfers. Butler called it "the most out-of-control show ever."

    SPIN contributing photographer Graeme Flegenheimer was on hand. See eight pics from the show.

    START THE GALLERY >>>>

    Setlist:
    Month of May
    Rebellion (Lies)
    Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
    No Cars Go
    Haiti
    City With No Children
    Intervention
    Suburban War
    Wake Up
    Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
    Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
    We Used to Wait

    Encore:
    Ready to Start
    Keep the Car Running
    Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • All Together Now!

    All Together Now!


    Will Butler (left) and Richard Reed Parry rock out.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • On Fire!

    On Fire!


    Tim Kingsbury, Régine Chassagne, and Win Butler in action (from left).

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • Captain Butler

    Captain Butler


    Frontman Win Butler leads the band in their hits-laden, 90-minute set.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • Guitar Virtuoso

    Guitar Virtuoso


    Richard Reed Parry shreds a riff at the Ukrainian Culture Center.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • Punk 'Tude

    Punk 'Tude


    Butler put in a vigorous, sweaty performance for the packed crowd.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • Dance Party

    Dance Party


    Régine Chassagne busts a move.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
  • Rock Roar

    Rock Roar


    Butler delivers set-closer "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)," from the band's Grammy-winning LP The Suburbs, with verve and intensity.

    February 14, 2011
    Photo by Graeme Flegenheimer
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