Arcade Fire Unstaged

A few weeks ago I wrote about a new idea some companies had to offer streaming HD video feeds of concerts for fans at home.  This week, American Express and the Arcade Fire (an awesome band, check out their new album ” The Suburbs” which dropped today) are streaming the second show from their two-night run at Madison Square Garden free on Youtube.

Arcade Fire has been embracing social media and using the Web to reach its fans for years, but for this tour they’re taking things to the next level.  Live-stream concert viewers can “Tweet the Band” to ask questions for the band to answer during a pre-show Q&A.  In addition, Amex is supporting “Digital Happenings,” where artists will collaborate with the online audience.  For this show, that means fans will have the opportunity to submit photos of their suburbs, which will be projected on stage during a song from “The Suburbs.”

Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) is directing the show, but viewers can choose between the director’s stream and a second camera that captures alternative vantage points, such as backstage or the balcony.   This is the first of five concerts in the American Express Unstaged series – future shows include John Legend and The Roots.

The show’s this Thursday, August 5, at 10 pm.  Check it out at www.youtube.com/arcadefirevevo.  If this is popular, it could signal a shift in priorities for the live music industry, which has struggled this summer due to higher ticket prices and fans reluctant to spend in a tough economic climate.