The Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse films are some of my favorite film adaptations of Spider-Man. Featuring absolutely gorgeous comic book-inspired animation that leaps out of the screen and a bright color palette, these movies have an incredibly distinct visual identity.
The musical score for Across the Spider-Verse, particularly its expert blend of symphonic, rock, and electronic instruments and melodies, punctuated each scene perfectly. So when I had the opportunity to see Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert, I couldn’t pass it up.
A Historic Theater
Our concert was held at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. This venue can seat 1364 guests. First constructed between 1926-1929, the Orpheum Theatre was restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. You can see the history in the venue’s architecture style and decorative elements, and it’s lovely.
We were in the auditorium referred to as the Proscenium. This space features incredible architectural details, and there are even moving clouds projected onto the ceiling. As we waited for the film to begin, the color of the sky in the ceiling would change from dark blue to blends of orange and purple, a neat detail that emphasized the beauty of this venue.
Our showing for Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert was quite full. We had seats on the ground floor towards the back of the venue, giving us a great view of the massive screen above the orchestra. The stage featured a modestly sized orchestra, a scratch DJ on turntables, and percussion and electronic instruments, including a rock guitarist.
The Setlist
Something that should come as no surprise, but makes the concert noteworthy in contrast to others I’ve attended, is the fact that this concert experience is simply the film itself. The movie is projected on the screen (along with subtitles, which is greatly appreciated for this film in particular), and the orchestra plays along with it.
In that sense, it’s very much reminiscent of silent and early talkie film screenings, where the live musical performance follows the action on screen. Since there’s no true setlist for this concert, I’ve listed all of the songs from the soundtrack.
The First Half
- “Across the Spider-Verse (Intro)”
- “Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)”
- “Vulture Meets Culture”
- “Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara)”
- “Guggenheim Assemble”
- “The Right to Remain Silent”
- “Across The Titles”
- “My Name is… Miles Morales”
- “Back Where It All Started”
- “Miles Sketchbook”
- “Under the Clocktower”
I went in to this concert uncertain of how much of the film they would actually orchestrate. To my pleasant surprise, they orchestrated much more of the film than I expected, amplifying the music and emotion of nearly every scene. The intermission is perfectly placed after Miles jumps into the portal to follow Gwen to Mumbattan, and it makes sense given how the film ramps up in the second half.
The Second Half
- “Spider-Man India (Pavitr Prabhakar)”
- “Mumbattan Madness”
- “Spider-Punk (Hobie Brown)”
- “Spot Holes 2”
- “Indian Teamwork”
- “Welcome to Nueva York (Earth-928)”
- “Spider Society”
- “Canon Event”
- “All Stations – Stop Spider-Man”
- “Nueva York Train Chase”
- “The Go Home Machine”
- “Falling Apart”
- “The Anomaly”
- “Five Months”
- “Across the Spider-Verse (Start a Band)”
- “Am I Dreaming”
With the major bulk of the action in the latter half of the film, the setlist for this portion of the concert is stronger. It includes several of my favorite tracks from the film, including “Nueva York Train Chase,” “Falling Apart,” and “Across the Spider-Verse (Start a Band).” Thanks to the inclusion of the live orchestra, the scenes were all amplified by the additional music layered on top of the film, making it feel like a truly immersive experience.
The highlight of the concert, for me, was the inclusion of the credits song, “Am I Dreaming.” The original recording’s instrumentation is relatively simple, but the added instrumentation and percussion from the live orchestra was absolutely fantastic and completely enhanced the song for the better. Sadly, our concert did not feature live performances from the singers; despite that, it ended up being my favorite performance of the evening because of how it added the original song.
The cost and the experience
The cost of our tickets was around $69. Obviously, when you compare this to the cost of buying a movie theater ticket or even buying the film on Blu-Ray, this is considerably more expensive. You are truly paying for the experience of watching a live orchestra play the music alongside the film. So is it worth the cost? If you are a fan of this film, absolutely.
Something I especially enjoyed about this concert was the opportunity it gives for young kids to enjoy a live music experience. I saw numerous families with their children in the audience, and it’s a great way to instill an appreciation for orchestras and live music at a young age through watching a fantastic movie.
Final Score: 5 out of 5 stars
For me, what elevates a concert experience is how the live music enhances the storytelling and visuals. These concerts present a unique opportunity to enjoy the music of my favorite video games, shows, and movies in a live setting. There’s nothing quite like hearing the sound of an orchestra or electronic guitar course through your body.
Films in concert like Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert is a celebration of the amazing scores and orchestrations. Often in the background, the music gets to be front and center in a concert. The perfect concert is a fully immersive experience in which I am fully absorbed in the experience alongside equally passionate fans who love these movies and games just as much as I do.
So far, Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert and the NieR: Orchestra Concert have achieved this perfect blend of musicality and storytelling. The story dictates the music, and the music punctuates the story; they each work together to create a holistic and memorable experience.
Featured Image: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert
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