Arctic Monkeys - Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
11th January 2012
Words: Rob Lyon
Words: Rob Lyon
The Arctic Monkeys were down-under to headline the Falls and Southbound festivals and help festival goers bring in the New Year. As well as the festival shows, the band played headline shows in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
This is the fourth Australian tour for the Arctic Monkeys, with the lads last venturing to our shores for the Big Day Out in 2009. 2011 has been a big year for the band as they celebrate the release of their fourth studio album Suck It & See, which received rave reviews right around the country. The new album was a major focal point for their show in Adelaide.
The Arctic Monkeys have matured, proving to be seasoned performers; a class act in a week that has already seen the likes of Grouplove and Crystal Castles breeze through town. Last time they played their own show, all the way back in 2006, it was one of the most anticipated gigs for that year so the benchmark set was pretty high. Plus, there was pride on the line after the lack-lustre set at the Big Day Out in 2009.
This is the fourth Australian tour for the Arctic Monkeys, with the lads last venturing to our shores for the Big Day Out in 2009. 2011 has been a big year for the band as they celebrate the release of their fourth studio album Suck It & See, which received rave reviews right around the country. The new album was a major focal point for their show in Adelaide.
The Arctic Monkeys have matured, proving to be seasoned performers; a class act in a week that has already seen the likes of Grouplove and Crystal Castles breeze through town. Last time they played their own show, all the way back in 2006, it was one of the most anticipated gigs for that year so the benchmark set was pretty high. Plus, there was pride on the line after the lack-lustre set at the Big Day Out in 2009.
In a haze of smoke and orange lights the lads emerged to a heroes welcome, wasting no time getting into Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair. Front man Alex Turner was buffed up, showing off his guns by going minimalist in an Australia tank top, hamming it up for the ladies.
From here it was straight in to Teddy Picker and Crying Lightening, with Turner serenading the crowd ‘oh Radelaide’, before belting their way through The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala. Black Treacle went down a treat and it was great to see Turner stray away from the pointless banter and let the tunes do all the talking. Having said that he did say that ‘we’re going to be with you for a while tonight if that’s ok playing some old shit and new shit’.
Things picked up another notch with Brianstorm and successive hits The View From The Afternoon and the epic I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor from their debut album sent people in to hyper drive, firing up the mosh down front.
New tunes Library Pictures and Brick By Brick from Suck It & See were well received but making the highlights reel was support act Miles Kane joining the band on stage to perform Little Illusion Machine (Wirral Riddler). It was easy to see the mutual admiration between Turner and Kane coming across more as brother than great mates. The dedication of Evil Twin to Kane seemed well earned. Pretty Visitors got the crowd waving their hands in the air with a nice ol’ mosh starting to form down the front. She’s Thunderstorms was a definite favourite and it was good to see the crowd get right in to it.
From here it was straight in to Teddy Picker and Crying Lightening, with Turner serenading the crowd ‘oh Radelaide’, before belting their way through The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala. Black Treacle went down a treat and it was great to see Turner stray away from the pointless banter and let the tunes do all the talking. Having said that he did say that ‘we’re going to be with you for a while tonight if that’s ok playing some old shit and new shit’.
Things picked up another notch with Brianstorm and successive hits The View From The Afternoon and the epic I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor from their debut album sent people in to hyper drive, firing up the mosh down front.
New tunes Library Pictures and Brick By Brick from Suck It & See were well received but making the highlights reel was support act Miles Kane joining the band on stage to perform Little Illusion Machine (Wirral Riddler). It was easy to see the mutual admiration between Turner and Kane coming across more as brother than great mates. The dedication of Evil Twin to Kane seemed well earned. Pretty Visitors got the crowd waving their hands in the air with a nice ol’ mosh starting to form down the front. She’s Thunderstorms was a definite favourite and it was good to see the crowd get right in to it.
The end of the set was drawing near and it seemed so fitting that When The Sun Goes Down brought the main set to an end. The crowd made plenty of noise and were rewarded with an encore, with Turner posing the question ‘couple more? Do you want ‘em?’. Suck It & See led the charge followed by another golden oldie Fluorescent Adolescent. The night was over but not without one last chance to rock out, with Miles Kane once again joining the Arctic Monkeys to smash out 505.
A stellar way to end a great show.
A stellar way to end a great show.