Arcade Fire announces surprise Ukraine benefit show in New Orleans
Lucky New Orleans-based fans get to hear the band's new music at the show tonight, March 14
Aux News Arcade
Arcade Fire has been teasing a new album to follow up its polarizing 2017 record Everything Now for a while now. Though the band hasn’t made a formal announcement of when new music is coming, Arcade Fire will give fans a first taste of the new era at a surprise show today (March 14) at New Orleans’ Toulouse Theatre.
The show, that was announced at 12 a.m. ET on social media, will have all of its proceeds go to the Plus 1 Ukraine Relief Fund. There’s no set price on tickets, and instead, fans can pay what they can.
Fans who live in New Orleans can get wristbands at the venue door at 10 a.m. CT, with the specification that only one wristband guaranteeing entry will be given per person who purchases a ticket. Pianist Rickie Monie will be opening the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
As for when fans who can’t attend the New Orleans show can expect new music, it looks like it’s coming very soon. The band recently shared a snippet of a song on its site’s contact page; the clip plays when you click on the doodle of an eye with a speech bubble that says “we.” Fans also uncovered some hidden clues of the next album on the band’s site, including the sheet music for a song hidden in the coding.
Additionally, Arcade Fire also sent some fans a cryptic postcard with the same sheet music, accompanied by the words “WE missed you.” The band’s Instagram page also removed all posts, and swapped the main image with the same doodle of an eye, but this time it says “I.”
For this album cycle, there is no fake Stereogum this time around, no cereal, or any other cringey publicity stunts. The band seems genuinely excited to share new music and thankfully, the first reveal is for a good cause.
16 Comments
polarizing 2017 record Everything NowPut me in the “I liked it” column. It’s a bit goofy in the usual heart-on-their- sleeve Arcade Fire way—so *that’s* what it would sound like if they tried approximating a R&B come-on song—but it was a good deal more “killer” and less “filler”, for me at least. I mean, do you just want them to keep recreating your favorite AF album (probably either Funeral, Black Mirror, or The Suburbs)?!?
I didn’t really care for it, but I agree entirely with your broader sentiment regarding their progress/evolution. Anyway, they put out four nearly perfect records before Everything Now. Seems petty to be too bummed out about the fifth, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I think they’re my favorite band.
With any luck, whatever’s on its way will be as weird and wonderful as what’s come before!
Beginning of the album and the end are great, there’s like 3 dead songs in the middle that are maybe the worst they’ve ever done.
Are these people a band? Or did somebody mix up the photo with the Cleveland Episcopal Hay Ride and Fete?
Honestly, that sounds better than an Arcade Fire gig.
“Episcopal Hay Ride and Fete” should be the name of their next album
Jesus fucking Christ – aren’t the Ukrainians suffering enough?!
I can see someone not vibing with Arcade Fire. But thinking listening to their music is tantamount to suffering? Not close enough to truth to be funny.
It’s not like they’re going to make refugees listen to it. Only New Orleans will have to put up with it , and we can take it. We’ve put up with a lot.
I once fell asleep on the couch and woke up to an episode of “Broad City” that is still the only thing I will ever remember about the show. Someone is trying to get an apartment I think and the landlord wants to make sure they aren’t a hipster. This is the only line I remember from that show:“Are you, or have you ever been a member of Arcade Fire?”
I look forward to their Yemen benefit concert!
Why does Win Butler dress like the Quaker Oats guy at an audition for The Lost Boys?
I googled Plus 1 Ukraine Relief Fund and got nothing. What is it and is it actually helping Ukrainians?
Google plus1.org. AF and and a bunch of other bands partnered with them for COVID relief. They’re a registered 501(c)3.
OK. They SAY they work with local organizations, but why not donate to the orgs on the ground instead of going through some entity that is going to skim money off the donations for overhead? This is the same issue with the American Red Cross. They sat on the money that was donated to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.https://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief
Cool, so they can raise some money to pay their board with!