Live review: Arctic Monkeys
November 23, 2009 by Dave Musson
People say they’re Monkeying around.
Artic Monkeys @ NIA, Birmingham, 20/11/09
If you were ever curious as to just how popular the Arctic Monkeys – Sheffield’s most recent successful contribution to the British music industry – have become then looking around the packed out National Indoor Arena tonight tells you everything you needed to know; they are huge. Their public have been hooked since ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ first found its way to our speakers and now we’ve been drawn in, the band have no intention of letting us go.
Opening with the fairly gentle ‘Dance Little Liar’ and cast in shadows by the strong backlighting, you get the feeling things are about to kick off, which is exactly what happens when the Monkeys then launch into the jangly ‘Brianstorm’ and the packed arena goes wild. Every ounce of energy the fourpiece manage to capture on record is reporduced on stage and their sound is clear, crisp and cutting as you could wish for. In fact, for an arena show, the sound is really well mixed, with Alex Turner witty lyrics perfectly sitting on top of his super-tight band.
Seeing them live you can really appreciate not just what a good pop/rock band the Artic Monkeys are, but what a fine performer Turner is. He doesn’t move around too much on stage but manages to keep you interested whilst making his bouncy indie riffs sound impressively heavy. The set is packed full of top-notch songs, with the aforementioned ‘…Dancefloor’ causing hysteria, but also songs like ‘My Propeller’ and ‘Crying Lightning’ showcasing the band’s
talents. The finale of ‘Flourescent Adolescent’ and ‘505′ ensured everyone went home smiling and rouded off a fine show. Their rise to the top has been something special and on this kind of form they don’t look like coming down any time soon.
Full Arctic Monkeys setlist: Dance Little Liar/Brianstorm/This House is a Circus/Still Take You Home/I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor/Sketchead/My Propeller/Crying Lightning/Potion Approaching/The View From the Afternoon/Cornerstone/If You Were There, Beware/Pretty Visitors/The Jeweller’s Hands/Do Me a Favour/When the Sun Goes Down/Secret Door//Flourescent Adolescent/505.
Photography: Dave Musson Photography
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I saw them at the M.E.N in Manchester last Saturday Dave and I agree with your review – They were really impressive and put on a great show. Alex Turner’s vocals were incredible throughout the whole gig.
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