For a while there, it seemed things were looking up for Chan Marshall, but no.

With a fragile voice and unwavering emotional clarity, Julia Stone dives into the chasm between our dreams and reality on her sophomore release, "By the Horns."

The year 2011 was an active one as many major tours made stops in St. Louis. There were plenty of big-name gigs going on from the enormity of the U2 360 tour's stop at Busch Stadium, the second annual LouFest at Forest Park and the visit from Arcade Fire at the Scottrade Center.

Remember that U2 concert at Busch Stadium? So do Bono's accountants. The show grossed $4,423,395. This is not a typo.

KDHX Photographer Joanna Kleine captured The National and Arcade Fire at Scottrade Center Thursday, April 21.

All photos by Joanna Kleine.

On April 21, blazer-wearing, plaid-draped fans filed into the Scottrade Center to witness the National and Arcade Fire test their mettle against arena rock. Both bands were more than up to the task.

Editor's note: This will be the first of two reviews of last night's concert with Arcade Fire and the National. Stay tuned for Will Kyle's take later this afternoon.

It's rare to see a dual billing of dynamic rock bands in the current musical climate. The mega tours of previous decades seem fewer and farther between, but last night's patrons of the Scottrade Center were in for a treat. While bands like the National and Arcade Fire don't quite possess the same household familiarity as, say, Guns ‘n' Roses or Metallica, fans of the indie scene were more than familiar.