Somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty-six musicians filled up half of the Fremont Abbey for their practice before the big show Tuesday night, November 17. Bassoons, oboes, French horns, clarinets, flutes, a harp, violins, violas, basses, cellos, percussion, tubas, trombones, trumpets, all collaborating with the standard singer, drumset, guitar, bass and keyboard of a modern rock band. Hundreds of years of musical development will culminate in a handful of Arcade Fire cover songs.

Those of you lucky enough to have a ticket are in for a treat. The sound is wonderful despite the inherent challenge of a live mix for four dozen instruments. The arrangements are true to form yet original. You'll get to see some of your favorite upcoming singers (from Hey Marseilles, Grand Hallway, The Kindness Kind, Black Swedes, etc.) sing all of the songs from Arcade Fire's first album, Funeral.

If you don't have a ticket, perhaps you can find one on Craigslist. If so, pick one up. Even the practice version of "In the Backseat" sung by the extraordinarily talented Shenandoah Davis backed up by an entire orchestra of awesomeness is worth whatever exorbitant markup a scalper might ask for. If you can't get in, look for more of these Seattle Rock Orchestra shows in the future.

Opening are locals Exohxo, who also will be employing the Seattle Rock Orchestra as their backup. Their upbeat and eclectic pop songs will get you pumped to sing along with the largest Arcade Fire cover band ever. And singing along is strongly encouraged.

The Seattle Rock Orchestra plays Arcade Fire's Funeral Tuesday, November 17, at the Fremont Abbey. Tickets ($12) are sold out. Show starts at 8 p.m.