Arcade Fire @ Barrowland, Glasgow

Opening for arguably the most in-demand band in the world today may sound like an acutely unenviable task. Unless your name's Patrick Wolf, that is. Wolf has a kind of Ziggy Stardust / Adam Ant-like stage manner that suggests there is very little in this business that daunts him. Promoting the release of his lauded record, The Magic Position, he has the tunes to match his unconcerned eccentricity as he sets about his task in inspiring style, suggesting the hype isn't in the least bit unwarranted.

Win Butler knows all about hype. Neon Bible has just entered the album chart at Number 2, beaten into second by 420 Kaiser Chiefs records, and he has no qualms in telling the Barrowlands that 420 people are going to get the shit kicked out of them tonight. And yet it must come as a relief that after all the kerfuffle, their sophomore release has been so rapturously received. On record the panoramic fibre of the Arcade Fire's music is apparent, in the live arena it's inescapable.

Whether it's the sight of Butler crowd surfing his way through Lights Out or the nomadic Regine seamlessly marshalling every instrument she happens upon, this performance reaffirms the abiding notion that there's something special about Arcade Fire. Much has been made of the darker nature of the new material and despite Butler's at-times reverential delivery from behind his pulpit like-keyboards, the enduring theme of tonight is a celebratory one with a carnival atmosphere taking over the Barrowlands. The undeniably (yes it's already getting old) Springsteen tinged Intervention and Keep the Car Running more than hold their own in the company of the predictably well-received Wake Up and Rebellion.

Since the release of Funeral, the levels of excitement and enthusiasm spawned by Arcade Fire's ever swelling following has been remarkable, what a pleasure to see it reciprocated fully by the band tonight. [Finbarr Bermingham]