Gracias por Las Memorias, Arcade Fuego

Ah, the week of Arcade Fire in New York has ended, and us New Yorkers are left a little sad at the fact that AF will not be in here for a while. But we are comforted by the many many shows taking place this week (LCD Soundsystem, Silversun Pickups, Arctic Monkeys, !!!, Mates of State, Elvis Costello, Andrew Bird, and the list goes on...).

Anyway, Gothamist has this great feature called Tourist that I'd like to draw your attention to right now. They had the drummer from The National, Bryan Devendorf, document his journey with Arcade Fire.

Here's what he thought of playing at United Palace Theater:

A strange feeling of recurrence and déjà vu permeates each day. I feel stronger. We have entered a Nietzschean time loop. Afternoon arrival, a brief sound check, feeling harassed by union drones, the performance, a quick bite of leftover catering, then witnessing the Great Awakening unfold. However, a new element is introduced at Monday’s show. There is an itinerant masseuse backstage, in the church office, which doubles as our dressing room. It is a heady cocktail, this aroma of massage oil and Jack Daniel’s and worship. What would Reverend Ike think?

And of Wednesday's show:

Wednesday is our final day going up this river. Gracias por las memorias, Arcade Fuego. I am elated to see our name on the Radio City marquee. The place is an awesome specimen of art deco vibrance. Totally stunning. Our show goes pretty well and Arcade Fire are especially good tonight. They make a gorgeous sound. It pulses like a still-beating heart resting in an ordinary-looking reliquary, up from the catacombs of Montréal. Majestic. . . But unfortunately the union thing is even weirder here, the staff is kinda prickly, and the night ends with numerous ejections.

Afterwards, I mill around the 5th floor among the assembled VIPs. A smattering of SNL castmembers is just over there. Rock stars in the corner. It’s been fun. I’m grateful for the chance to peer behind the curtain for a few days but I’m so looking forward to a return to normalcy. I want to wake up each morning in my own bed. And, like the French say, stay home and tend the garden.

Bryan's a good writer, ain't he? Read the whole post here.