In a recent interview with Terry Gilliam, members of Arcade Fire said The Greek in Berkeley CA was one of their favorite places to perform. I certainly understand why. I think some groups were born to play to large crowds, and Arcade Fire is one of them.
The Greek is a beautiful and classic amphitheater with incredibly steep proportions that holds 8,500 people. It feels like being in a great big tea cup, with people all hanging in precise little parallel rows around the side. Except it’s not tea that was brewing, rather it was a very intense tribal energy that was being brewed and stoked and conjured at The Greek last weekend. I think the best thing about live music is that indescribable energy that is created between a band and the audience. There are many artists that can get it going at a small, intimate venue, but it takes something special to make it happen on such a grand scale. Arcade Fire have that something special.
I could write more about what that “something special” is, but instead, I’ll suggest that that you take a look at the pictures. I’d like to give a big shout out to the staff at The Greek and Another Planet Entertainment for always being so generous and flexible and allowing me to shoot from random spots around the amphitheater after the “first three, no flash” is over in the photo pit. I don’t think a concert like this is best captured from up close, you really need a wide perspective to get a feel for the magic that was present when Arcade Fire played the Greek last Saturday night.
