Photos: Arcade Fire, The Suburbs Tour

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Arcade Fire put on a pretty killer live show. The band has always had a big, orchestral sound, but it wasn't until seeing them live filling an arena that it all came together for me. The band's set closer of “Wake Up,” with the entire room chanting back, before their encore drove the point home.

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photos of the Grammy award-winning band the Arcade Fire performing on their 2011 tour for The Suburbs at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 21, 2011. (Todd Owyoung)

Photographer's Notes:

Cameras Used:

  • Nikon D3
  • Nikon D700

Lenses Used:

This shoot for the Arcade Fire was an interesting shoot – of course they all are, but the lighting treatment for Arcade Fire made it a particular challenge.

Overall, the first song was the most evenly lit, with seemingly more consistent and predictable light. The second and third songs saw much more dramatic side and backlighting, as well as a little bit of a red wash.

One thing not to miss if you're shooting this tour is when William Butler breaks out the tom-tom during “Rebellion” – the second song at my show – and goes to town, hoisting it up in the air and generally putting on a big show. With the bright red tom, it's a pretty photogenic scene. At least for the start of this tours, it looks like they've often been including Rebellion in the first three, so you have a good chance of shooting this drum bit.

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