So, unless you’ve been under a rock you know that Arcade Fire has been getting a lot of buzz out of Reflektor, their latest major release. The band, which has become indie royalty of sorts have graduated to an arena tour that will take up the majority of 2014.

The band has thrown in a mandatory caveat that has taken many by surprise – they are requesting “formal attire” or “costume.” The band has gone so far as to say they are “not sorry” for any discomfort some feel about this endeavor. A bit pretentious? Probably. Don’t write off the idea – it has a lot of merit, I think.

In March of this year I attended an arena show. It was Muse at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. While the show and visuals were nothing short of spectacular, the crowd sucked. When the band played “Map of the Problematique” and “Supermassive Black Hole” I could scarcely believe the apathy of those sitting (yes, in some cases SITTING) around me. Do people really pay nearly 70 bucks a ticket just to passively sit and maybe sing along to “Resistance” and “Uprising?” Yes, yes they do. Arcade Fire obviously does not want passive participation, or lack thereof. Enter the formal get-ups.

Asking fans to dress up forces them to make the show a big “to-do,” not passive entertainment. Dressing up makes the fan in the nosebleed section still like they are a part of the event. Arcade Fire may be a bit full of themselves, but their strong language regarding this rule of sorts could be to encourage unity – making the collective Reflektor experience all the more memorable for those involved. Novelty and feeling like one is a part of something will promote fan loyalty down the road. In the long run, a decent size group of fans that is loyal will ensure the longevity of Arcade Fire better than a group of casual listeners, even if they can fill an arena (or twenty).