This was a huge special outdoor concert by Arctic Monkeys, held at Finsbury Park in London over two days 23rd May and 24th May. I got the tickets for the second because I like to follow Billie Joe Armstrong’s motto that “The second day is always better than the first”. However, I’m sure that both nights were pretty awesome, as are the headliners as well as the support bands. Indeed, Royal Blood, Miles Kane and Tame Impala were the opening bands, so a pretty exceptional line-up what do you reckon?
Queuing when the rain was pouring down was perhaps not that nice, but oh well, this is England and we all know how quickly the weather changes… Luckily the sun came out at times! Once me and my friend had crossed the gates we found ourselves in a huge park full of food stands and such. Turning right there was the stage in front of us, with a big screen on each side of it and the pitch in front divided by horizontal barriers. We went for the front pit which could host 10’000 people, yes no kidding, the rest of the pitch would have to fit the remaining 40’000, I told you this was a HUGE concert. We got a cool red paper wristband with “Arctic Monkeys-Front pit” written on it. We were all set and excited for the bands to start playing.
17h25-17h55
Royal Blood
The first act of the evening was Royal Blood, a young British duo playing a power rock which can remind you of the early Biffy Clyro as well as The Black Keys. To sum up: drums and a bass guitar, this is all that this band needs to astonish the listeners. They did it pretty well, getting everybody jumping on their songs and sing along to one of their most famous songs: “Little Monster”. They played for only 30min but their set was certainly intense. Remember their name and their songs because you are going to hear about them a lot!
18h30-19h10
Miles Kane
Miles Kane is one of those persons who seem born to be rockstars. When he is on stage, he owns it along with the audience. In his, unfortunately, rather short set he still managed to get everybody dancing and singing along to his rock n’ roll tunes like “Inhaler” and “Come Closer”. Miles Kane is, as usual, super engaging and amazing with the crowd, thanking everybody at the end with a “Thank you Finsbury you’ve been amazing. See you soon!”. This was the 6th time I saw him and I truly can’t seem to get enough because the next appointment with Miles Kane will be at Caribana Festival next week. I’m looking forward to get my body shaken by his great music once again.
19h40-20h30
Tame Impala
For those of you unfamiliar with them, Tame Impala are a psychedelic rock band from Perth, Australia. Lots of guitar riffs and instrumental interludes in which your mind can wonder in whichever direction it wants. The screen on the two sides of the stage translated their psychedelic sound into images, which rendered the concert experience more complete. Their music, although being of high quality and great was perhaps not the ideal one to be played to such an audience. But, of course, it depends a lot on people’s tastes. However, they were super cool during “Elephant”, where they got the audience jumping and screaming and during “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” in which they were echoed by the audience’s choruses.
21h05-22h40
ARCTIC MONKEYS
Between the end of Tame Impala’s concert and the beginning of Arctic Monkeys’ set, a rather weird video was shown on the screens. The first thing to come to mind was that it had the same style of the “Do I Wanna Know” video, which suggested that it was made on purpose for the concert and to introduce the band. When the Arctic Monkeys‘ hour approached the video went back to its origin: a straight line which by different moves transforms itself into the oscilloscope of the AM album.
This is when the strangely empty stage turns by 180° and unveils the instruments, the black curtain is dropped and behind it the AM oscilloscope formed by small circular lights is ready to shine and Jamie Cook, Matt Helders, Nick O’Malley and Alex Turner make their entrance. The 50’000 fans who are still standing on their feet scream and welcome the Sheffield lads.
Meanwhile, the opening notes of “Do I Wanna Know” set on Finsbury Park kicking off the concert with a great beat. The constant drums on that song are hard to forget as are the lyrics which go with them. If I were to describe this song played live with one word I would just use – WOW. It is under all aspects a WOW song, from its beat which drags you along the entire song, to the guitar slowly coming in and Alex Turner’s voice appearing after that, the rhetoric questions and the lyrics. It is a constant build up which leads to a feeling of awe in the audience, which is faithfully singing along to every single word.
“Do I Wanna Know” is followed by two other songs taken from their masterpiece AM, “Snap Out Of It” and “Arabella” which are both great live and to which the audience sing along. Afterwards Alex screams “We’re Arctic Monkeys from High Green” (a suburb of Sheffield), as if they needed to present themselves… When he announces that the next song to be played is good old “Brianstorm” the crowd goes crazy even before the bursting of the drums. For this song the mosh pit is pretty much all over the place. Well, how can you stay still with such a banging tune?
Further on, they take the audience through a selection of songs taken from Suck It And See and Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not. They then play an amazing “Crying Lightning” from their album Humbug. Then, back to AM with the hip-hoppy “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” which gets the crowd imitating rappers’ antics as well as sing along.
The lights on stage turn orange and red for “Fireside” as to evoke the perfect atmosphere for the title and the theme of the song to reflect reality. To introduce the next song Alex asks “How are the ladies?” at which, the ladies in the crowd scream very loud. Then he says “This is for you baby!”, as the notes of “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” set in. Finsbury Park transforms itself in a huge dancefloor with some mosh pits here and there and lots of jumping.
Alex Turner is increasingly more confident and completely different if compared to a couple of years ago when he was all shy on stage. Now the man has an attitude, rebellious and certainly cool! In between songs he turns towards Matt’s drums where he has is brush and adjusts his Elvis quiff because well, when he gets to songs like “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” even his strong hair wax cannot hold is hair in place.
After this burst of energy, the band as well as the crowd need some rest, which comes with the beautiful flow of the following three songs: “She’s Thunderstorms”, “No.1 Party Anthem” and the epic “Cornerstone”. They are all perfect songs to sing along, being rather quiet and slow. “No. 1 Party Anthem” is the antithesis of its title, it is beautiful on the CD but hearing it life is just marvellous, with Alex asking the audience to sing the refrain “Come on, come on, come on” with him. After that, they play a semi-acoustic version of “Cornerstone”, a proper treat. After all they couldn’t have left this song out, one of the bars at the concert was named “The Parrot’s Beak” after its lyrics.
After these brilliant and rather quiet songs Arctic Monkeys pick “Knee Socks”, for which the lights on the AM oscilloscope brighten up in different places to the beat of the drums and for which Nick’s chorus can be heard. Up next is one of the band’s milestones: “Fluorescent Adolescent” that with its catchy rhythm and witty lyrics is one of the fans’ favourites to sing along and swing to.
Arctic Monkeys announce that “505” will be their last song and bid goodbye to the audience. There is no Miles Kane joining them for this song, as he usually does when he is on tour with the Monkeys. They leave the stage, thanking the audience. However it is not over yet because the band is to return after the encore!
Or better, after five minutes or so Alex and Miles Kane come on stage, it’s just the two of them. The first thing that comes to mind is that they are going to play a song by The Last Shadow Puppets, the band they formed together. Indeed, this is it! Alex, with a cigarette in his hand, asks the public: “Do you like that Last Shadow Puppets record?”, screams of joy coming from the audience can be heard, at which Miles answer “I think there was a song called ‘Standing Next To Me’” and then adds “I think we should give it a go” and then he starts singing. Hearing this song live was a dream come true for me, I had been waiting to hear it for years! And finally there it was in all its beauty and intertwining Miles’s and Alex’s voices in a perfect melody. Once the song is over, Alex says “Mister Miles Kane” to which Miles answers “Mister Alex Turner” and then the two friends hug each other before Miles leaves the stage and the other members of the band come on in.
Up next are three different songs all taken from the last masterpiece of the Monkeys. The first song is “One For The Road” that with its choruses is a great sing along. The second is the ballad “I Wanna Be Yours” taken from a poem by punk poet John Cooper Clarke. Its notes caress the listener touching his heart. The audience sings back the song to the band making this a special moment for everybody.
Throughout the concert Arctic Monkeys played mostly song from their last album AM, playing almost all of them! This was a good choice, these songs are captivating and fantastic live! It also gives the band an occasion to test how the new songs work live and how the audience responds to them. However, the fans who don’t like the last album they made (is this even possible?) may have missed a few old ones like “Mardy Bum” or “Old Yellow Bricks”. After all we probably would all love to hear their entire discography in one night, but unfortunately it would be a bit difficult.
Last but not least, Arctic Monkeys decide to bid goodbye and thank the audience with an electric and extended version of “R U Mine?”, to finish on a high note and also metaphorically to ask the audience if they are still there. I guess the response is pretty clear, one last mosh pit, 50’000 people jumping up and down and singing along just for this great band.
Setlist:
Do I Wanna Know
Snap Out Of It
Arabella
Brianstorm
Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
Dancing Shoes
Library Pictures
Crying Lightning
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High
Fireside
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
She’s Thunderstorms
No.1 Party Anthem
Cornerstone (semi-acoustic)
Knee Socks
Fluorescent Adolescent
505
Encore:
Standing Next To Me (The Last Shadow Puppets song, Miles Kane and Alex Turner)
One For The Road
I Wanna Be Yours
R U Mine? (extended outro)
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