Concert review: Arctic Monkeys at Birmingham LG Arena

Arctic Monkeys

Birmingham LG Arena

Concert review by?Charlotte Cross

They started out playing the pubs and clubs of Sheffield, but these days Arctic Monkeys are one of the most worshipped indie bands on the scene.

From middle-aged rock fans to teen indie wannabes, Birmingham's LG Arena was at full capacity yesterday for the Sheffield lads' latest stop on their UK tour.

Support came from one of this year's success stories, The Vaccines, whose powerful indie-pop sounded as though it was made to be belted out to an arena.

Then, sauntering on-stage in a leather jacket and sporting a quiff, Monkeys frontman Alex Turner looked more like Kenickie from Grease than a modern-day rock icon.

But within seconds, the crowd of thousands was bowing at his feet as he began to take them through a whistle-stop tour of the band's four albums.

What was most noticeable was the contrast between their old stuff – the almost frantic Still Take You Home, the addictive riffs of View from the Afternoon, and I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – and the dull drones of newer songs like Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair.

But seeing them live on stage was enough to convince me they haven't lost it after all.