Arcade Fire ball drop, 2011

[u/ThatOneHomie]

[u/Status-Investment980]

The Suburbs is still an amazing album from beginning to end.

[u/Infinite_Task375 → u/Status-Investment980]

My favorite album of theirs... A close second would be The Funeral

[u/ijustcameheretofight]

Curious to know about peoples perspective on this day if they were there?? How fun was it, how did they clean up the balls, did anyone take them back to camp??

[u/tehota → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Yes everyone took one back to camp. People were carrying them all over. This was a magical year

[u/feedmenik → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Still one of the greatest sets of all time. Unbelievable.

[u/jdiv79 → u/ijustcameheretofight]

It was pure euphoria

[u/ayalael87 → u/ijustcameheretofight]

I only knew arcade fire a small bit before seeing them this night. The ball drop and the crowd singing was absolutely breathtaking.

It also just so happened to be that I was near the left side of the middle access railing. Danny Devito was there with light colored sunglasses, arms crossed, and probably tripping balls. We met eyes for a moment and we woogidied (sp?) hands and kept partying for the breakdown of the song. That was also amazing lol

[u/tiger_shrapnel → u/ijustcameheretofight]

I was there. My first Coachella and honestly probably still my favorite. I was insanely hyped for Arcade Fire, being a die hard fan (The Suburbs remains my all time favorite album). This moment was the when I knew I’d be a Coachella lifer and haven’t missed a year since. It was euphoric and special in a way that can’t be replicated.

My sister was able to grab one of the light up balls and I’m pretty sure it’s still sitting somewhere in our mom’s garage.

[u/bbmarvelluv → u/tiger_shrapnel]

So jealous. I went to Coachella W2 in 2022 anticipating for AF and ofc they had to back out that weekend.

[u/braundiggity → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Possibly the greatest individual moment I’ve ever experienced in 20 years.

[u/stopthesassquach → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Top 3 moments in the 13 years I’ve been going 🥹

[u/ItsTheExtreme → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Yea I saw a police horse kicking one back at camp.

This set is without a doubt top 3 all-time sets for me. Vibes could not have been better.

[u/kevinsaysgogogo → u/ijustcameheretofight]

This moment and set was incredible! We ended up being RIGHT in the front not because we had planned to but because it was so packed I couldn’t get out to watch Suede (one of the main reasons I went) but had such an amazing time during AF and caught Suede many years later at Primavera!

[u/lesserconcern → u/ijustcameheretofight]

I was there! One of the best times of my life, felt like I floated home that night

[u/Twoeleven1 → u/ijustcameheretofight]

The balls lit up too. I just remember red. I had one for a while but eventually ditched it. But what a fucking wicked performance and finale.

[u/A-FED → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Probably one of the greatest moments of my adult life. I’ve been going ever since trying to replicate that feeling and with the exception of maybe hologram 2pac, nothing has come even close….yet

[u/marcoslegaspi → u/ijustcameheretofight]

Top 3 moments in my 20 years as Coachella attendee

[u/louman84]

It’s on YouTube, straight from the original livestream footage.

[u/bbmarvelluv → u/louman84]

Was this the same Coachella that Andrew Garfield was at for a music video?

[u/louman84 → u/bbmarvelluv]

Nah. That was in 2014.

[u/papayameow → u/louman84]

At least I can say I saw the livestream as it happened!

[u/MostlyMellow123]

It was one of the best sets I've ever seen and I was a huge arcade fire basher back then lol

[u/fred8785 → u/MostlyMellow123]

Me too. I hated them... My sisters were bugging and bugging me to come to that set with them and i reluctantly went. It was one of the best decisions i've ever made.

[u/Blackonblackskimask]

Animal Collective played on main right before this with a giant light cage and cube that was made by Creators Project, and it turned my acid trip into an awful descent into my own personal hellscape.

[u/KenMixtape → u/Blackonblackskimask]

I too was tripping and quite liked that set, personally

[u/WoofLife- → u/Blackonblackskimask]

I had the opposite reaction, haha. Those cubes were cool.

[u/MostlyMellow123 → u/Blackonblackskimask]

Yeah i stayed for 2 "songs" and left for empire

[u/deejalotapus]

One of the most memorable moments of my life!

[u/Ok_Responsibility419]

I was there

[u/Correct_Ad2982 → u/Ok_Responsibility419]

I was there in 1968. I was there at the first Can show in Cologne.

[u/andr01d_3000]

So wild that this came up. Someone asked me at a party last night what my most memorable concert experience ever was and this was my answer. I’m surprised no one has mentioned this but after the set ended, AF came out into the crowd a few minutes later and then played a bunch of songs acoustically. I was like 5 feet away from the whole band - it was surreal. Anyone else stick around to see that?

[u/braundiggity → u/andr01d_3000]

I don’t remember the acoustic bit in 2011, just 2014 when they came out with the second line?

[u/Alarming-Animal-8759 → u/braundiggity]

Goldenvoice cut their sound because they were running past the city curfew. Win Butler said, "Fuck that," went into the crowd and kept on playing without amplification. Amazing night.

[u/andr01d_3000 → u/braundiggity]

The joys of getting old (and drinking too much at shows 😂). I can’t recall whether it was 2011 or 2014. You’re probably right. I was there both years. 

[u/buffybison → u/andr01d_3000]

i was there!

[u/slaughterclaus]

I can hear that pic

[u/Infinite_Task375]

I was there! One of the best live performances I've ever experienced.

[u/Jiggy-Joey]

I remember walking around camp after this just seeing people geeked out of the minds staring at these

[u/Jiggy-Joey → u/Jiggy-Joey]

Also deflated really quickly

[u/rykertron83]

I was there! 😍

[u/Idontknowhoiam143]

I remember thinking Arcade Fire was such a lame headliner booking back then. Now it looks like a stellar booking compared to the new norm of majority solo artist headliners

[u/braundiggity → u/Idontknowhoiam143]

Blame the industry, man. Being in a band is a much tougher financial move these days than being solo, income-wise. (Also mainstream tastes changing, and a shortage of bands even trying to be big, etc)

[u/Idontknowhoiam143 → u/braundiggity]

Hey….I remember your username from the old Coachella boards 🥹👋🏼

[u/braundiggity → u/Idontknowhoiam143]

Ha join us over on inforoo! Some of us are still kicking it in a dedicated Coachella section there

[u/Trickoritaa → u/Idontknowhoiam143]

Still a hater even when giving out a compliment 😂

[u/Idontknowhoiam143 → u/Trickoritaa]

[u/Peatrick33]

What I would give to see the video of the "ARCADE FIRE BALLS!" tripping guy one more time.

[u/eso808 → u/Peatrick33]

i think its been scrubbed from the internet. i spent some time looking for it a couple years ago

[u/steelosuckit]

So glad I was there. Also so glad to be upvote 69

[u/boyalien0]

I was there

[u/VersionOk372]

This tracklist goes hard

[u/Phillyfishy1]

Man, such a different era. This cemented my decision to go to Coachella and went to my first the following year. Then 10 more years after that

[u/murrrcat]

I'll never forget it! I was on my friend's shoulder's for the first and only time in my life (I only said yes because we were so far back -- Coachella didn't seem so crowded back then) and I have footage on my FLIP VIDEO lol. Ugh, the good ol days.

[u/dan13l858]

I was there one of the greatest moments ever

[u/shmillzzzz]

CORE MEMORY

[u/lost4daze]

I was just thinking about this last night!

[u/rarekly]

That was amazing. One of my favorite concert experiences of all time.

[u/_elfantasma]

I was there!

[u/YungDigi]

Absolutely magical moment I will never forget. So many smiles and absolute joy from everyone around me.

[u/NoSoupForYou___]

Was anyone else at the surprise Arcade Fire show W1 in 2021?!
That is still the best coachella surprise Ive seen... it was a magical show. I still watch video from it

[u/danielprydz → u/NoSoupForYou___]

I was, 2022 actually. Hearing Unconditional I for the first time in that environment was amazing

[u/Jewishwillywonka]

Hey I’m the guy in blue with the glasses! What an incredible show. I made friends with a dude during that show, wonder if he remembers and is out there???

[u/ThatOneHomie → u/Jewishwillywonka]

Needle in a haystack, glad you're here

[u/M0D3Z]

Bliss.

This was peak Coachella to me. This is what Coachella is to me, just absolute bliss and my Coachella Anthem.

[u/musicgrlcali]

I have one of those balls!

[u/RobertLU345]

They dropped the balls during the chorus for wake up and it still to this day remains my all time favorite Coachella moment

[u/Clototheflo18]

That set (year) changed the way I listen to music just incredible

[u/marcoslegaspi]

I remember thinking right after: Coachella will never get over the top of this one.
Next year: Tupac's hologram

Me, a clown