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Show Review
I was determined to enter tonight’s concert free from any prejudice. Anyone’s opinions can be easily distorted when radio stations, magazines and TV are all so very Arctic Monkey friendly. Do I have to keep my “Cool critic credibility” intact (now that they are absolutely fuckin’ huge and cannot put a foot wrong), by palming them off as the next overrated fad… The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom is a fine venue that tonight, is rammed full. It is awash with English pride celebrating not only the day of our patron Saint, St. George, but also the country’s new saviours of sing-a-long rock. Around 4,000 punters are present, most of them quite willing to pay extortionate prices for tickets off internet auction sites. Some people paying up to six times their face value for entrance. Are they gonna be worth it? As Alex Turner and company casually roll onto the stage the reception is deafening. A quick mumble into the microphone and they proceed with the mellow introduction of “Riot Van” followed, with no time for breath, by a blistering rendition of “The View From The Afternoon.” Wow! …… Pretty Good!……. Pretty Damn Good! It’s blatantly apparent that the audience have found their next rock idols. Northern grit dominates the lyrical content of the music and yob enthusiasm descends upon the crowd with every song. The audience gleefully add chorus to everything played.  In between songs the band shuffle around uncomfortably as if they themselves still cannot believe their meteoric rise to fame. The arrogance that so defined Oasis, who were the last rock band in the UK to achieve this level of interest, shows no sign of creeping into the Arctic Monkeys stage persona’s. By the time we reach “Mardy Bum” it’s pretty fucking clear that these boys can rock it with their live performances. They can instantly transform from the shy retiring types into an onslaught of punk driven noise. And they look so at home when they are performing, it’s just the in between bits they seem to feel awkward about. Under the circumstances with this band maybe it is to be expected.The show is wrapped up in fine fashion with “A Certain Romance” and to rapturous applause. I’m surprised, I must admit. I thought that without the media machine I would be watching this band a few doors down in a local bar with 50 other people… On this evidence that’s probably not true. They can all stand on their own two feet and pull out an intense performance. I’m particularly impressed with the percussion. Matt Helders was unreal with his drumming all night. Absolutely spot-on. By the time these boys are rounding off the night my mind is made up. Believe the hype!! (well some of it) Okay it’s nothing groundbreaking and it may not translate well lyrically unless you hail from the North of England, but you can’t help but pay attention to the band when they are on stage. The singers drawled voice pines to be listened to, and the energy of the music when it hits you is superb. Is this a band going to set their name in the music hall of fame before the media grow tired of them? That remains to be seen, but if they’re appearing live anywhere near you, I definitely recommend you grace them with your presence… You won’t be disappointed and it would be rude not to see what all the fuss is about.For more info see: arcticmonkeys.com
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It’s always with caution that I approach a band with success bestowing them at such a phenomenal and galactic rate. These bands do not often appear and when it happens within the timescale of say, 4 to 5 months, and in this period going from selling next to no music to outselling the rest of the British chart combined, it’s even rarer. Pretty heady stuff, and it’s so easy to get caught up in the hyperbole frenzy.
