Arctic Monkeys (Manchester)

Having recorded the fastest-selling British debut album of all time and followed this with a second effort which topped the charts, Arctic Monkeys have performed in various festivals around the world including a massive gig at Old Trafford Cricket ground. It seems they are primed for another major live performance.

The band have recently been on a hiatus in LA and met up with Josh Homme of American rock band Queens Of The Stone Age, who aided them in producing their recent third LP. Now the lads are back and have a major gig at the MEN arena - something that would have been unheard of a few years ago for such an Indie band. They are here to showcase their new darker heavier material which was conceived in the desert. So how would they adapt their material to this massive venue?

There seems to be something up with the Arctics tonight and it’s not Alex’s new hairdo (which one fan would like him to change back). It’s not their tightness as a band, because they are as tight as ever. The combination of Alex Turner’s inimitable Yorkshire vocal and observant lyrics, Matt Helders frenetic drumming, new guitarist Jamie Cook’s riffs and Nick O’ Malley’s thumping bass is still as explosive as ever. It’s also not the new material, which is a complete refresh of the usual formula.

The problem is that having recently produced an album of darker and heavier material, they have divided the masses and it shows as the new songs are met with indifference - no addictive riff or memorable chorus is present, apart from the single ‘Crying Lightning’ and ‘Secret Door’, which has a close association with Turner’s side act Last Shadow Puppets with its cinematic feel.

It is only when they perform songs from their former albums, such as hits like ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ and ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ as well as the epic closer ‘505’ , that this evokes a massive sing along as well as encouraging the audience’s involvement.

At risk of antagonising other Monkeys fans who may feel they were an indie band but are now mainstream property, this arena is too big even for Arctic Monkeys. This is especially true considering they have just produced an album which would seem far more suited to intimate surroundings. It does seem that Turner is almost bashful to the large turnout and continually expresses his gratitude.

Regrettably tonight the Arctic Monkeys as a band were great, and the new songs show progression, but there seems to have been something lacking which has left people feeling rather cold and the atmosphere post-gig proves this, as it's not the new material the fans are singing, it’s the classics.

In an interview with CityLife the night before, Nick O’ Malley bassist stated "We never really feel comfortable in arenas". This is certainly true on the evidence of tonight’s performance.



MEN Arena, Manchester, 21st November 2009.

Written by Dan Nelson.