How did it even happen? Three nights of Beirut and three nights of Arcade Fire within four days in New York City. Pleased with the four shows I was able to attend, I suggest wrapping up this madness by handing out awards.

Best Performer
Arcade Fire’s Regine Chassagne for excellent singing, drumming and hitting of other things.

(Pictures and all other important awards after the jump)

The Indie Rock Star Award
The most coveted, given only to the championest of champions. This golden honor goes to Arcade Fire’s trumpeter Kelly Pratt, who happens to be the only person to have attended (and played at) all six shows. He performed with fellow Arcaders during Beirut’s Sunday night show, then rushed from 175th street’s United Palace to Delancey street’s Bowery Ballroom on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday night, he climbed on to the ridges that run along the walls of Radio City Hall and reached up to the balcony. As the audience roared to the sound of his unmicrophoned trumpet from up there, I was reminded of… the scene in 1994’s Lion King when Rafiki holds up the young Simba and the entire kingdom of lions roars!

(Remaining awards after the photos)

Remaining Awards

Best Leadership
Win Butler for enticing the audience at Radio City Music Hall to defy security guards and run up to the stage. To the soundtrack of “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out),” fans pushed through security posts and defeated the big men previously engaged in tidying up the aisles. Later Win apologized to the security, saying “I’m a bad, bad boy.”

Most Spirited
No one gets into the music like Arcade Fire’s younger Butler, Will.

Most Charismatic
Zach Condon of Beirut

Best Supporting Role
Jason Poranski of Beirut and Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire

Best Opening Act
Final Fantasy

Best Collaboration
Final Fantasy and Beirut

Best Encore
Beirut’s “The Gulag Orkestar,” with or without members of Arcade Fire

Best Surprise
Members of Arcade Fire during Beirut’s Sunday night encore

Best Visual Display
Arcade Fire had a fantastic visual system set up, in which live feeds showed up on the circular “mirrors” looking like flickering TV footage. In addition to several other cameras, there was one installed inside each of the megaphones used. However, Final Fantasy’s quirky animations made with layers and layers of transperencies were simply too delightful to not be given this prestigious honor. So he wins.

Worst Hype
“David Bowie presents…” (and/or the National)

Best Venue
Bowery Ballroom

Best Audience Participation
Fans getting on to the Arcade Fire stage during Tuesday night show at United Palace, which I did not attend

Worst Audience Participation
“Don’t ever stop!” from a girl to Beirut. “I’ll go further,” from a girl to Zach Condon.

Best Response
Fan: “Jon Natcez is God”
Zach: “Jon Natcez doesn’t exist”

Most Promising
Zach Condon

Most Consistent
Arcade Fire scores extra points for wearing the same clothes

Favorite Show
Beirut at Bowery, May 8

(ps. I was only 10% awake when I wrote this list last night (i.e. I was nodding off between sentences), so I’ve made some minor, minor undocumented edits)

Previously

• Beirut at Bowery May 8th – videos + review
• Beirut at Bowery – photos + review
• Final Fantasy at Bowery – photos + review

or listen to this live track recorded by Ryan

[imeem http://media.imeem.com/m/ReBi1jUSk2/aus=false/]

Arcade Fire’s first of three shows, this one at United Palace, was solid. It must’ve been quite a night for those in the first 30 rows or so. Even the Lower Loge seemed to have a great view. For the rest of us there was a sad realization, looking down from ULOGE G, that we have been spoiled by our Boweries and Mercuries. The venue was beautiful, though, and I was close enough to the ceiling to admire its intricate insanity. My favorite part of the night, however, would have to be an A train packed to the brim with Arcade Fire concert-goers after the show.

(Review and photos continue after the jump)

Regine Chassagne sang much more impressively than I had anticipated. She played drums for quite a few songs, during some of which her huge, magenta projection on the large screen was engaging. There were some tracks from Funeral, but also lots from Neon Bible, including the title track, “Ocean of Noise,” “Keep the Car Running,” “No Cars Go,” etc. Towards the end came the old’s “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” and “Rebellion (Lies)” linked with a distorted transition we also saw at this year’s Coachella. During “Rebellion” singer Win Butler walked into the crowd, which, from where I sat, was impossible to see.

I did not pay much attention to the National. There were a few songs I couldn’t help but listen to attentively, but big venues can be distracting while the opening band is playing. Extra tickets will probably be available outside the venue tomorrow night as there seemed to be plenty available today.

Photos were hard from where I was, but here are the rest anyway:

Previously:

• Arcade Fire: modern-day art-rock answer to Springsteen + co?
  
• Arcade Fire at Coachella 2007 – videos

or listen to this live track recorded by Ryan

[imeem http://media.imeem.com/m/ReBi1jUSk2/aus=false/]

As I prepare for two Arcade Fire shows this week, writes Washington Post’s J. Freedom du Lac:

A ticket to an Arcade Fire show represents the possibility, if not the probability, of being transported — of transcendence. It’s the reason tickets to the 3,700-seat venue sold out in less than an hour. It’s also why the band is becoming increasingly known as one of the most vital live acts in contemporary popular music — a sort of modern-day art-rock answer to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, whose galloping music was echoed in Arcade Fire’s superlative set-closer, “Keep the Car Running.” (The Talking Heads are another important touchstone.)

Hmm. Full article.

Photo: Elizabeth Weinberg / Buy a print of this image