Arcade Fire at the Arena, Nottingham, 31st October

Initially there were reasons why I held back when Arcade Fire announced their arena shows. For a band so beautifully connected with their fanbase, who previously marched into a venue from the rear doors, it has to be a challenge to build the same atmosphere to the masses. With their bout of festival appearances this year, many have dabbled in the Arcade Fire, and no one could have been more shocked than the band themselves when it came to the furore of their second album Neon Bible. I didn't want to see my favourite band playing to the drunken fool at the back of the arena, I wanted the core fanbase there, just like in the beginning. Call me selfish, but I was convinced tonight's show wouldn't live up to those early gigs- a band doesn't keep such a highly dedicated fanbase and get number ones, some idiots are bound to slip in along the way.

Arcade Fire have a secret weapon, however, in the fact that they are the best live band in the world. That fact is not even debatable, it's not until you watch the band for the first time you realise how obsolete other music is. You can be rest assured tonight that for your £23 every member onstage is giving it 100% for their audience. As the band enter, complete in Halloween masks to 'Black Mirror' you can taste the impending doom as the loud arrangements of the band echo throughout the surroundings. The band remain surprisingly calm as the two members at the end of the stage spend the entire of 'Laika' beating drums and helmets like there's no tomorrow. Each song fuels another climatic soar, and the band create such perfection on a huge scale, mixing Smiths covers with Funeral's strongest hits- but frankly Arcade Fire could play three notes and make it sound like something unique.

As each member twists and turns onstage it keeps even the most dedicated fan on their toes. 'Haiti', normally a more subdued moment in the set, slowly builds until a climatic ending, immediately filling you inside with glee. And it's not until that moment that you realise you haven't stopped smiling since the show began- that is until someone throws an object at lead singer Win Butler's head. Within seconds the mood is over, as he reacts like anyone else would do, utters a few expletives and storms off stage.

Luckily, suddenly the original Arcade fanbase appears. There are no boos, no confusion, just a wave of clapping and screams as people patiently await the band's return. If it were anyone else right now, they'd be a riot, but after another few choice words, the band not only continue, but finish on 'Wake Up' as Win walks through the crowd, with only a microphone for protection. As he disappears in a sea of hands and bodies, Arcade Fire have nothing to worry about, appealing to the masses is all in a days work for this unique band.