Ok this has nothing to do with Raleigh, and will no doubt make the people posting to the Bickett thread believe that I am an “elitist” for sure if I’d come all the way to trendy Asheville to hear trendy Arcade Fire. But here I am, because I think Neon Bible is pretty good, and I’d heard from trusted sources with good taste in music (that does not translate as elitist, ok?) that Arcade Fire puts on the most amazing show. Well, I had my doubts when I saw the Arcade Fire table in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium loaded with commercial souvenirs of the band that went way beyond tee shirts and buttons (of course I had doubts, since I am so negative, shy and insecure according to the Bickett cheerleaders); and when I saw them take the stage–neon everywhere, 6-8 huge circular screens on which was projected live video of pieces of the band as they performed. In other words, they seemed to be using major tricks that mainstream bands use to make up for a lack of talent or skill in music. But was I shocked before the first song barely got underway, stunned and cheering the rest of the night. In 50s bluegrass and hillbilly music, there used to be a term “working close.” If someone said a band was working close, it was the ultimate compliment, and meant that the entire band seemed to be making music as one being, they were so tuned into each other. Well. Arcade Fire was working close, all ten of them, running all over the stage, switching instruments, filling in for each other, screaming their songs (musically screaming ) playing the hell out of their instruments, and their lungs. Excellent musicians playing with perfect precision, yet with tremendous wild energy and passion, never a false note or missing a beat; not a second of sloppiness. And those neon flashing bibles and the chopped up live video shots on the circle screens? It worked!! Far from being a distraction from the music, or a substitute show for lazy musicians, it was a creative comment on music itself–Arcade Fire’s music and the state of music as a whole. It was art! As ironic as their lyrics and their antics and their music. The whole thing just worked.
One last word on Bickett: Come on, you all are taking the “local color” of the piece far too seriously. Just reread the first paragraph, if you still don’t get the point. It’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about Kings, it’s not about rock bands performing on schedule (by the way the tickets for Arcade Fire said 8, and by god, the opening band started at 8)—it’s about the Independent article and the quotes from Bickett’s owner. Raleigh as a whole was blamed for making the Bickett go out of business, and excuse me, I’m a part of Raleigh, and I will not be blamed or stand by and let the Independent- our only alternative newspaper that in my own opinion is so inaccurate and so sensationalized it is worse than the N & O [Editor's Note: As stated, the previous is the writer's own opinion, not a statement of fact. It is not necessarily the opinion of the other authors at Raleighing.]–mislead the public into thinking Bickett failed because we failed. No. Bickett failed because the owner or whoever ran the place failed. Come on, the article quotes the owner–and I’m paraphrasing her words here–it went under because she couldn’t get a license for an outdoor rock festival, and because the residents of Raleigh don’t buy art. Excuse me? We don’t? You mean we didn’t buy your art. That might suggest looking at why.
