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.