I’m a snob about music. I used to live in Seattle and would see shows from all different genres of bands on a nightly basis. Some of the best acts in the world performed clubs so small I could feel the sweat of the band. For the small band that makes it big, I can honestly say I saw them when, and mean it. So, it’s with this music CV and admitted snobbery that I can honestly say, this week I treated my ears to one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire at Red Rocks Amphitheater. If I could have created a perfect night, in a perfect outdoor venue, with a perfect crowd and please play all my favorite songs, and can I not have any traffic on the way out, then this would have been it. No two bands could have been more perfectly paired, because where LCD Soundsystem is an neo-electronic masterpiece mixing and re-mixing and sending out throwback beats to the mid-90s, Arcade Fire is a classical/rock/anthemic sound explosion filling the ears with more rich, textured instrumental riffs, melodies and music than you think you can possible experience. Both bands perform, not just play music. And, the reverberation and acoustics of Red Rocks under a clear, starry-filled sky alongside a crowd that came to party made the evening feel like an acid trip (or at least what I hear a really good one feels like .

LCD Soundsystem was the opener. One man – slightly soft and pudgy – a laptop, some guitars, drums, and a stage full of speakers. He opened with “Daft Punk is Playing at My House,” the hit that rocketed him to fame on most indie charts. It was the perfect intro. A little funky, a little electric. One after another, he unleashed his electronic wrath upon the audience. Then, he moved without skipping a beat into a 10-minute voyage through new tracks from “The Sound of Silver” CD ending with a rave-like jam that had the entire crowd singing “yeah yeah yeah yahyahyahyahyah.” All of the beats echoed off the geologic perfection of Red Rocks and sounded dreamlike. LCD transformed the audience into a dance party with beats that I could feel pulsing in my chest. His set was so good, at the end there was a small hope there would be an encore. And despite how bad I had to hit the ladies room, I waited and waited. No luck. But here’s a clip of the crowd going off:

With a pipe organ blaring and red, neon bibles lit as a backdrop, Arcade Fire stormed on to the stage. Having seen them before (see, I’m a snob. I saw them when.), I was prepared for an outstanding performance. And they didn’t disappoint. If you’ve ever listened to Arcade Fire on CD, you’ll hear the incredible amount of instruments and the layers and textures of sound in each song. That sound is amplified tenfold when seeing them live. There are no less than 10 instruments used in any given song. It’s incredible, actually, to see a band in this day and age that includes more than just your standard drums and guitar. And just when you think there can’t possibly be any more instruments to play, the bass guitarist puts on an old football helmet and the drummer plays his head with drumsticks. No lie. Perhaps the most charming performer in Arcade Fire is the lead singer. The woman is small, with unruly curly hair, a piercing angelic voice and gives 100% in every performance (Remember, I can make this claim. I’ve seen them 3 times now.). If she’s not singing, she’s playing the violin. If she’s not playing the violin, she’s playing the drums, and singing. And then, if she has a spare second, she’s on the keyboards and xylophone and still singing. It’s that kind of excitement and dedication that make Arcade Fire shows unbelievably unique. There’s a driving force behind Arcade Fire that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s powerful and passionate and emotional. Here’s a clip. You be the judge.

If you’ve never heard of either LCD Soundsystem or Arcade Fire, do yourself a favor and listen to them right now. They are both making some of the most interesting music to date, and I would know. I’m a music snob.

- Sarah