Arctic Monkeys have witty lyrics but no repartee

Concert review: Arctic Monkeys, Birmingham NIA

Rita Maman

Click numbers below for more photos. All images by Jason Sheldon – Junction 10

There’s no doubting that Sheffield lads Arctic Monkeys have made it big, but no matter how long they grow their hair, and despite their mature and mellow new sound, they will always be remembered for those witty tales of suburbia.

The opening chords of Brianstorm got everyone dancing, before frontman Alex Turner greeted the audience with one of his few comments of the night: ”Birmingham, you sexy crowd.”

This House Is A Circus and Still Take You Home were followed by the song that made them – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. Those up in the seated tiers soon discovered it was impossible to sit down during the band’s most famous track, prompting a mass rise by thousands of fans who knew every word. Latest album Humbug was given a fair hearing, with the most popular songs Propeller, Crying Lightning, and Pretty Visitors sounding great live.

But once again, the biggest cheers and sing-a-longs came for earlier tunes including A View From The Afternoon and When The Sun Goes Down.

Secret Door saw showers of glitter fall from the sky, before closing tracks Mardy Bum and the beautiful 505.

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This article was posted on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 10:30 am.
View more articles about: birmingham nia, concert review.

1
mattwolves

November 21, 2009 at 12:33 pm

quality gig but just seemed a little short and they didn’t interact with the crowd. They need to take a leaf out of Kasabians book on how to whip crowds into a frenzy!

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2
Dave

November 22, 2009 at 8:10 pm

That was a disappointing gig, I was smack in the middle of the pit getting soaked with student wee and something was definetely missing…I think their egos have grown in tandem with their hair!

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3
Ryan Birkett

November 23, 2009 at 11:28 am

WTF! guys, it was a mint gig and it was long enough,anyway alex was mint yeah he didnt connect with the crowd much but thats him hes a musical genius, and get over his long hair ffs.

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