Written by Kait Monroe
You all might remember my album review on Arctic Monkeys latest album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, though I wasn’t as in love with their new stuff as I was with the old ,however; seeing them live changed my perspective completely. The venue was huge, rows of chairs high into the sky, the grass filled with lawn chairs and blankets; man buns, and hipster wear galore. We can’t forget about the drunkards, or the parents brought along by their teenage children to see the one and only Alex Turner sway his hips like Elvis and jazz us up like the world was ending. I went to the CMAC in Canandaigua, NY with Mini Mansions opening for them. I didn’t know Mini Mansions and I’m not sure of what songs they played but they matched AM’s pace pretty well and they were a good opener for them, definitely go check them out as well!
Arctic Monkeys mixed the old with the new in their set, skipping between ballads like “One Point Perspective” and “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”, to bangers like “Arabella” and “Knee Socks”. The slower songs were accompanied by shining white lights, and an epilepsy warning and the faster ones switched for reds and purples. There was so much energy from the band and even more from the crowds. The pit was lopping up Turners antics, the mid sections (where I was) we were dancing, singing, jumping like no tomorrow. As for the yard, I think they just did their best to enjoy the show and stay warm and dry while it rained.
The whole night I waited for Arctic Monkeys to play one song, my absolute favorite song that they’ve made, the song that makes my bones shake and my blood jump. I waited hours, and then they walked off stage. My heart dropped and I was shocked that they wouldn't have played such a widely loved song. As I waited for something to happen, and watched as the crew started to swarm the stage, I notice they brought out a cube. I didn’t think anything of it, and then the crowd started chanting for an encore. I wanted one too! Then Turner walks back out, sits at a piano, and the cube lights up. It’s stripped, mirrors and holed panels as an alternating pattern, I wish I knew what song they played for that but I wasn’t completely familiar but it was amazing, it was like being at disco, the cube being the ball. They played two or three more songs after that, and then Turner asked, “Does this sound familiar?”. This was it, this was my song. The heart wrenching guitar riff bursts through the speakers, the crowd went wild. “R U Mine?” we all sang along, head banging, jumping like lunatics, letting the sound rattle through our bodies like the sun rays. It was epic. I threw my arms in the air, and I bopped right along with my people, as we rocked the night away. They went through the song twice and thus ended my Artic Monkeys concert experience.
When concert junkies tell you that all music is better live, listen to them. If your favorite band is playing, go see them, if a band you only know a few songs to is near by, go for it, even if you don’t know the songs or the band, go! The feeling, the atmosphere, the sense of belonging is magnificent. The fun part about live music compared to albums is that when the song is live, the band can change the feelings, the sounds, and reinterpret the song. Take Eric Clapton for example, each show he plays is never the same. You recognize the songs but the improvisation is real, and it’s like that for all concerts. I was blown away, and I'm itching to go to another concert. There is no experience like it, and the albums don’t do the artists justice. But if you get the chance to see Arctic Monkeys in concert, don’t hesitate, don’t think, just go. I can promise you won’t be disappointed and you'll end up as fueled and fired up as I was, and the thousands who joined me that day.
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