When Arcade Fire went live and direct, Jim Carrollwas there

St John's Church has witnessed much drama since the builders finished their work in 1728. Fire, lightning and Luftwaffe bombers have all had a go at rearranging the Thomas Archer-designed Baroque church in the heart of Westminster.

Tonight it's Arcade Fire's turn to provide the drama. For the third night of their London residency, they start as they mean to go on. When the lights go down, the band show up in the space between the pews in the middle of the church to do a spine-tingling acoustic Guns of Brixton. The Clash reimagined as a revivalist meeting come-all-ye? Only here, only tonight.

Once onstage, the 10 musicians concentrate on teasing the wrinkles from their new Neon Bible album, with all bar the title track played. What quickly becomes clear is Arcade Fire's ability to turn on the live style has not lessened a jot while they've been away. While the crowd are stilted and reserved, the same cannot be said about the musicians. It's as if they're locked into their own kind of rapture.

Ocean of Noise and, especially, The Well and the Lighthouse benefit from live oxygen, becoming more anthemic than they are on record. There's a burning spirit to (Antichrist Television Blues) that is almost Springsteen-like in its intensity, while My Body Is a Cage shows that Win Butler has found a new range for his growl.

The two Funeral tracks aired are greeted like long lost friends. Robust and raucous, both Rebellion (Lies) and Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) fire the show to the skies and beyond. You can't help but wonder just how much more extraordinary this band can become.