Arcade Fire Play Secret Show in Montreal Debuting Fast New Songs

The Arcade Fire played a secret show in Montreal on Saturday night to debut new songs from their follow-up to The Suburbs, the band's Polaris, Grammy and Juno Awards-winning album.

Arcade Fire, as Les Identiks, played new songs at a secret show last night at the @breakglass_ Studio in Montreal.

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 2, 2012

The band played the show under the assumed identity "Les Identiks" at Montreal's Breakglass Studio, to an audience of close friends and Montreal music scene one-percenters. A local institution part-owned by The Besnard Lakes' Jace Lasek, Breakglass is also where fellow indie local indie stars like Patrick Watson, Wolf Parade and Stars have recorded in the past.

According to Arcade Fire Tube, the band's semi-official fan twitter account, there was a veil of secrecy surrounding the show. "No video, no photo and no phones policy at the secret gig last night," they tweeted.

@wvcconner Reviews or even talking about the gig prohibited, apparently. Making it all hard. My sources couldn't tell me any more.

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 3, 2012

Those who broke the don't-talk-about-Arcade-Fire-club rules were apparently dealt with accordingly.

Haha! One guy's phone got thrown against a wall for trying to take a photo last night. #ArcadeFire #LesIdentiks

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 2, 2012

If the early reports are any indication the new songs will a) be fast-paced, and b) may have a socio-political edge to them.

New songs generally described as fun, dance-y and groovy. Blowing off some steam from the studio recording sessions?

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 2, 2012

New songs: Heavy use of percussion/rhythm section / Only 1 slow song / 1 punk rock-ish song / A 7-8 minute song opened the show.

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 2, 2012

Few saying the themes/topics for the new songs are rooted in the mid 19th century and the African American history in the US.

- Arcade Fire tube (@ArcadeFiretube) December 2, 2012

Arcade Fire released The Suburbs in 2010. Most recently they've been endorsing Barack Obama, playing Haiti charity shows for True Blood vampires, and taking part in student protests.