Somewhere in the middle of Arctic Monkeys’ set Alex Turner apologises to the crowd: “sorry ‘bout the other week by the way” he says shyly.
There was no need, by the time the band finish opener ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ the crowd had already forgiven him.
Looking sharp in a suit Turner works the crowd with ease, performing the Macarena as he sings the words during ‘Don’t Sit Down…’ and dedicating half the songs to the girls, sorry, the “LAAAADIES”.
As was expected, classic songs from the band’s repertoire such as ‘Mardy Bum’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ go down a treat, however it is cuts from latest album AM that get the best reception, in particular ‘Snap Out Of It’, which features the irresistible backing vocals of Nick O’Malley and Matt Helders.
John Cooper Clarke’s poem-come-Monkeys song ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ unites the crowd along with an unbelievable confetti display while ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?’ has the whole crowd dancing.
Most interesting in the band’s live set is Turner’s confidence, gone are the days of the quiet lad from Sheffield, he’s been replaced by an overly confident Saturday Night Fever like dancing figure, strutting across the stage with a microphone whenever he is freed from the shackles of his guitar.
As Turner swoons around, flirting with both genders of the crowd, the rest of the band are air tight in their performance, cementing their status as the best band (live and recording) in the world.
Just as they are announced as the first headliners of T in the Park, Arctic Monkeys bring their tour to an end.
If the reception they got during their encore, that includes ‘R U Mine?, is anything to go by, the band won’t have a hard time pulling a crowd when they return to Balado next year.
Words: Ciaran Vance
Rave Child 