You Know Who Arcade Fire Is (Right?)

Way back in 2004—before shows were rabidly documented with digital cameras, iPhone videos, live-Tweeting and whatever—we saw a little band called Arcade Fire play at the Mercury Lounge. It was amazing, and we knew we'd never see them in such a small venue again. Afterwards, as buzz built up rapidly around them, Win Butler told us he feared the industry might taint their innocence, and that he'd know it's time to pack things up for good when they collaborate with Sting. No mention of a Grammy.

In their later trips to the city the band played Irving Plaza, Webster Hall, Judson Church, United Palace Theater, Radio City Music Hall (with The National, who documented the tour for us), and most recently: Madison Square Garden. They were also a musical guest on SNL. Their only return to an intimate show here was when they spontaneously busked in Union Square years ago.

Despite all of their success... it seems not everyone in America knows who this band is, and now they want blood after these Canadians ~~stole~~ deservedly won ~~Eminem's~~ their Grammy award last night! A Tumblr titled Who Is Arcade Fire? has popped up documenting the hilarious Tweets from the outraged masses—amongst them are Tawny Kitaen and Rosie O'Donnell. It's sort of reassuring, though, that not everyone out there gets it, because maybe this can keep happening:

Over at the Village Voice, there's a lengthy Grammy postmortem discussing the Arcade Fire win more in depth.

UPDATE: For what it's worth, it appears the Who Is Arcade Fire? Tumblr idea was lifted from this Brooklyn Vegan post from yesterday. So derivative... but we're still glad it exists.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on February 14, 2011 4:33 PM

Comments [rss]

Pe

Interesting article, but it won't change my opinion of this band...I don't like them. I'm glad everyone here loves them, I think everyone needs a music act/band to be passionate about. After watching the Grammys they reminded me of someone doing a bad imitation of Sonic Youth with a little Sigue Sigue Sputnik thrown in, and trying hard to act like Ian Curtis. Good luck to this band...hopefully the Grammy doesn't screw them up too bad..

manposeur

But now that Arcade Fire is big, there "true fan base", the Hipsters will ignore them.

Ragingsemi

Finally actual musicians won "best album".

Guest

This just shows that American kids have zero exposure to quality music and also the Grammy's actually got it right for a change.
I mean this is the same awards show that in 2001 gave album of the year to to Steely Dan over Beck Midnight vultures, Radiohead Kid A and Eminem Marshall Mathers LP.

chuzzlewit

any major dude might have to agree with that decision.

SchmeeNYC

It is very uplifting that the industry chose to recognize a group of musicians who write their own music, play multiple instruments, and perform with passion. Underdog stories get me everytime!

thinprep

While I'm happy a rock band won over a wigger, I don't see what so great about Arcade Fire. I remember falling asleep when they played at Lollapolooza in Chicago 2005.

Joel Ceballos

Some idiot said on FB "who are they again? I don't listen to hippie shit"

Idiot does not realize Arcade Fire was never a 'hippie band' and they haven't been 'hipster' for quite sometime.

A few years ago they were as yuppie as Jens Lekman and Sufjan Stevens and now they are just mainstream.

Ragingsemi

Idiot does not realize Arcade Fire was never a 'hippie band' and they haven't been 'hipster' for a very quite sometime.

"very quite sometime"????

airtech1

So, hipster to yuppie to mainstream. They're just elevating to higher levels of pejorative.

angry_pickle

I think the reality is there is a lot of good music in many different genres. If you love your music, the Grammy Awards shouldn't be viewed as anything but (1) a night of entertainment thrown by the rich studios and (2) someone's list of recommendations which is no more/no less authoritative than some random blogger's music recommendations.

unretrofiedforu

Exactly.

Grammies = irrelevant, just like their precious traditional music business model.

soundfreak

Arcade Fire also performed on The Daily Show last summer.

Theodore Wirth

Uh, no. I know who Jazzanova is though.

j44ke

Who is Eminem?

nicemarmot

If they're actually watching the Grammys, AND using Twitter...you pretty much know their idea of good music is Britney Spears or some other manufactured garbage.

zombie_cakes

While I'm not much a fan of Arcade Fire (I've tried, many times, just don't see what everyone else sees), I'm glad to see an actual band with actual musicians take home album of the year.

On another note, I really don't give much of a hell about the Grammys.

Trustafarian

No doubt.

Funny that "The Suburbs" is probably the worst AF album. Funeral was the only one I could remotely get into.

Even if AF is overrated - they're still WAAAY better than anyone else nominated.

yello10

They opened for the Wrens at the old Knitting Factory before Merc. Just sayin . . .

JMH

"Way back in 2004—before shows were rabidly documented with digital cameras, iPhone videos, live-Tweeting and whatever—we saw a little band called Arcade Fire play at the Mercury Lounge."

Well, now you're just bragging.