jason stives visits The Electric Factory in Philadelphia to catch British rockers Arctic Monkeys …
Rock ‘n’ roll may be a pleasing legend in the 21st century, but many great live band try to keep the sentiment alive for new generations. Sheffield, England’s Arctic Monkeys, a band virtually the kings of indie rock in their native country, share the same feeling and were willing to prove it to America with a sold out show Wednesday night at The Electric Factory in Philadelphia in support of their upcoming fourth album, Suck It And See.
At nine o’ clock on the dot, the band took the stage beginning their set with a new track, “She’s Thunderstorms,” which was met by the audience in the same melancholy tone that the songs vibe expressed. After a nice welcoming applause, the band smashed the audience’s light momentum into oblivion, breaking into “Brianstorm,” the bass and drum thumping opening track from their 2007 release, Favourite Worst Nightmares. From here on out, frontman Alex Turner, subdued but clearly ready to play in his leather clad rock ‘n’ roll garb, wanted the most out of the rabid American fans so the band played louder and harder than the poor sound system of The Electric Factory could handle.
Short on words throughout the evening, Turner and company made sure to extend some greetings and words of security in between songs to the sold-out crowd, if just to show that there wasn’t a sound proof window between them. The fans didn’t seem to care much regardless, as their irascible energy showed during both new and old tracks regardless of a lack of personal intimacy. New cuts practically foreign to the audience like “That’s Where You’re Wrong” and “The Hellcat Spangled Shalala” were still met with enthusiasm, if only to fake mumble the new lyrics under their breath.
Then again, Arctic Monkeys fans aren’t your average radio fans as they greeted tracks like “Brick By Brick” (which was first made available through the band’s site) and the album’s first single “Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” with gusto enthusiasm and loud sing-along. The promotion of Suck it and See was greatly covered with performances of si out of the 11 tracks on the album, but the band made sure to balance their 19 song set out with enough classic cuts from their three previous records. It was in those songs that the energy hit its peak as sweat, testosterone and utterly blinding strobe lights created what looked like a rave but felt and sounded like a rock ‘n’ roll show.
Never a dull moment and never a time to catch ones breath, the Monkeys jumped from song to song covering tracks from all their releases like “Crying Lightning” and their only American hit, “I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor.” By the time they reached the end of their initial 17-song set, the crowd seemed to just be getting started never minding the fact that almost 70 minutes had gone by in a flash. Wanting more, the crowd was calling out whatever tracks they full desired to hear like “When The Sun Goes Down,” “My Propeller,” and the inevitable performance of “Fluorescent Adolescent.”
While many people tend to head to the back before the encore just to give them time to head towards their cars, the 3,000 people in attendance stayed firmly in place and just as loud as when they first entered. When the band came back on the unofficial party continued as the band closed out the night with the aforementioned “Hellcat Spangled” as well as fan favorite “The View From The Afternoon,” and finally “Fluorescent Adolescent.”
As fans filed out gleefully impressed and completely satisfied to boot, fans discussed the show and what songs they wished they had heard. However, and more importantly, the concert goers wished more than anything that the Arctic Monkeys will hopefully make their way back to the east coast sooner than later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vek6jJ54JPM
SETLIST:
1. She’s Thunderstorm
2. Brianstorm
3. This House Is A Circus
4. Still Take You Home
5. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
6. Pretty Visitors
7. Teddy Picker
8. Crying Lightning
9. Reckless Serenade
10. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
11. Potion Approaching
12. Brick By Brick
13. If You Were There, Beware
14. Do Me A Favour
15. Cornerstone
16. That’s Where You’re Wrong
Encore:
17. The View From The Afternoon
18. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
19. Fluorescent Adolescent
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