If you're looking for conventional or Win Butler in Arcade Fire's latest music video, don't be surprised to find a startling lack of both.
Not that it's a bad thing. In fact, devotees will find it quite refreshing to see the ethereal-voiced Régine Chassagne, The Woodlands-reared Win's wife and band mate, dominating the camera lens on the band's fourth visual release from The Suburbs, "The Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)." The rest of the band is nowhere to be found in the faceless, lackluster suburban town where Régine spins, undulates and shimmies to her heart's delight.
But do you think Arcade Fire would stop there? Oh, hell no.
The quirky crew takes it one step further — and asks you to dance with Régine as well.
Alongside the evocative depiction of complacency in Video No. 1 for "The Sprawl II," a call for audience participation has also sounded — in Video No. 2 for "The Sprawl II."
This is where you come in.
No stranger to asking for your participation in its mind-bending videography, Arcade Fire wants you to wave your hands around in the air like you just don't care — literally. That's what you'll have to do to make Régine dance anyway.
Flail your arms, wiggle your hips, and watch Régine twirl along with you, if you can figure out what you're doing. In the band's newest stab at interactivity, the video camera on your own computer triggers . . . something, and between your movements and clicks of your mouse, you actually get to coordinate your own dance party with Arcade Fire's frontwoman.
So maybe it's not clear what actually happens. But the point is, something happens — because you make it happen. And we won't question it.
We'll just leave it to the indie mavens of Arcade Fire to put the ultimate fan experience right back in your hands (or on your desk or lap) yet again.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
