Coachella 2022: Arcade Fire, 'grown up' and reflective, returns to Coachella with an emotional set

[{"selector":"#anim-edc46246-b151-4704-9112-5f6679d6f650 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.382812380963664%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

If the days of indie rockers still being able to make a splash at Coachella have been on their death bed, then Arcade Fire may have shown up just in time to save the day.

[{"selector":"#anim-fd510a8e-fd5b-4dbb-9560-37a5a31d3332 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.19034081315851%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The band's appearance, which was announced only a day before their set, proved to be the perfect surprise for anyone missing the days when a band offering this kind of orchestral instrumentation

[{"selector":"#anim-ba4a3540-b8f4-4885-991a-12af27ea3f7b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.463068069336796%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

It's been seven long years since Arcade Fire did just that, but those days didn't feel so far away as a crowd packed the Mojave stage for a show that could only be described as emotional and even

[{"selector":"#anim-3a02f105-c55f-4a2d-856d-f863cf32cd7f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

More: Coachella 2022 live updates: Arcade Fire stops show for medics; a tribute to Ukraine flies high

[{"selector":"#anim-41e736c5-a07e-4c7a-aa80-0921296a8f08 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.620117069903625%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Things did get off to a troubling start after lead singer Win Butler had to stop singing only moments after launching into their new single, "The Lightning I," from their forthcoming album "We."

[{"selector":"#anim-5558173f-faef-49bd-9d5f-b28a047918c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.18878218573166%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

But if the crowd was "waiting for the lightning," they quickly started to get it as Butler launched into the companion song, "The Lightning II."

[{"selector":"#anim-f4072270-196e-4d53-a116-55f04d83317d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The show's emotional zenith came soon after, when Butler stopped to remind the crowd about how Coachella was where Arcade Fire was "introduced to the world in 2005."

[{"selector":"#anim-75b471a7-ae1d-401d-a401-7bf064379c3f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.43164114352388%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Full Liverpool squad available to face Man City in FA Cup semi-final

[{"selector":"#anim-63a9d335-c3ff-4c49-9601-d7916559f96d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.49999977245145%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more