Arctic Monkeys, MEN Arena, November 21st
Arctic Monkeys The MEN Arena, Saturday November 21st
Tuesday, 24, Nov 2009 01:12
By Julia Ross.
Having seen Arctic Monkeys more than once, the contrast between the 'new' and 'old' material was never more apparent than in the band's opening entrance on to the stage.
Opening with new song The Jeweller's Hands, Alex Turner's trade mark fringe was replaced with longer, straggly locks and notably more sombre stage personas accompanied the darker and more self-conscious sound of the new album. (For anyone who hadn't been following the band closely this year they could easily have been mistaken for the support act.)
Introducing I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor the song that made them, which long ago passed through masterpiece into 'anthem' territory Alex wryly asked the crowd "Anyone seen us before? This is for anyone who hasn't."
Though the performance - like pretty much everything they do - was still amazing, there was something subversive about it. As with the renditions of a lot of the first album songs in particular, the pace was just that little bit slower, the mood ever so slightly detached. But then when the song was first released the group were teenage boys who lived at home with their parents and went to nightclubs in Sheffield - it has to be difficult to evoke the same feeling again and again after four years.
They seemed to revel in the cheesiness of some of the older songs - as Alex suddenly broke off from Still Take You Home'into a few lines of Rod Stewart's Do You Think I'm Sexy and did the same thing during Fluorescent Adolescent, cutting it up with Mardy Bum (possibly the worst song they've ever recorded).
But though the old stuff still sounded great - somehow revitalised by occasional playful touches and distortions- the night was really all about the new album Humbug. It's a real challenge for a band as popular as Arctic Monkeys to strike out in such a different direction - but though the songs on the album take a bit more listening to than their forerunners they stood out head and shoulders when performed live - if only for the fact that this was the sound which suited the band they had become.
It was odd seeing Favourite Worst Nightmare song 505, which always felt like the most private thing they've recorded, being performed in front of thousands of people all singing it back to them. Moments like this can be slightly uncomfortable in a 'stadium rock' context, but none of this could detract from the power of song or its live performance.
Overall, it was a night which showed Arctic Monkeys moving into the next stage of their work. Though some people were bound to go away disappointed they ultimately showed off their staying power as artists and capacity to continually create and to reinvent themselves.
Set list
The Jeweller's Hands
Brianstorm
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Potion Approaching
My Propeller
Crying Lightning
Sketchead
The View From The Afternoon
Cornerstone
If You Were There, Beware
Pretty Visitors
Dance Little Liar
Do Me A Favour
When The Sun Goes Down
Secret Door (Confetti)
- - - - - - - - -
Fluorescent Adolescent (Mardy Bum insert)
505