If I were to Plagarize...

I would've copied Jim Harrington of the Newspaper (Bay Area) Contra Costa Times in describing Arcade Fire.

The Arcade Fire might be the most unlikely musical success story thus far of the 21st century.

On paper, this is a band that simply doesn't make sense as a mainstream hit. There are 11 people onstage, rocking out with such nontraditional pop instruments as the hurdy-gurdy, violins, a church organ and mandolins, and most players seem to trade instruments with each new song. The stage act is part Cirque du Soleil and part Keystone Cops, as the band members frolic about and engage in something akin to a rugby match. And the group's brand of pop music is often more operatic than indie.

In a land ruled by "American Idol," this is a band that should only be selling hundreds of records and drawing handfuls of hipsters to small club shows. Its chances for ever rising above cult status should be minimal at best.

But risen it has.

The Montreal-based group's latest offering, "Neon Bible," sold 92,000 copies in its first week on shelves back in March -- enough to earn the No. 2 spot on the Billboard album chart. Equally impressive, Arcade Fire drew some 16,000 fans to its two-night stand, on Friday and Saturday, at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. That's a number that most big-time arena-rock acts would be happy to generate.

In all, that makes Arcade Fire one of the very few bands in recent years to be able to turn an early career buzz into widespread mainstream success.

Formed in 2003, Arcade Fire quickly became known as a great live act. The group was scorching hot when it performed at the comparatively intimate Great American Music Hall in San Francisco in early 2005. And, on Friday, it was even hotter.

What happened to my writing skills? This guy's just good.