Review: Arctic Monkeys live @ Finsbury Park

Image: Takemetoaconcert

Arguably the band that has most defined this era of British music, The Arctic Monkeys topped a heavyweight bill last Friday night in a packed out Finsbury Park, full of lairy northern lads sticking two fingers up to the London beer prices as they weaved through the crowd, juggling as many pints as they could handle.

Analogue time no longer applies for many because these four Sheffield lads have made AM their own via their brilliant album of the same name (stream above).

Fittingly, crowds spilled in past two gigantic letters spelling the title out, as Finsbury Park basked in the last hours of sunlight creating a vibrant festival-like atmosphere. The truly symbolic letters lay testament to a band that has evidently encapsulated so many with their witty rich brand of British rock, evidenced via the diverse crowd present.

Unfortunately we missed Royal Blood kick off proceedings but was present to witness the ever consistent Miles Kane get people in the mood blaring out some of his solid tracks such as ‘Rearrange’ and ‘Inhaler’.

Next up was the much anticipated Tame Impala, cleansing the crowd with their inquisitive psychedelic rock who responded mostly to ‘Feels like we only go Backwards’ and ‘Elephant’ (above).

The Monkeys then confirmed their presence in predictable fashion, as the opening chords to ‘Do I Wanna Know’ rang out across a well-oiled, 45,000 strong Finsbury Park.

The group's frontman Alex Turner, a man at the peak of his powers, stood clad in an impeccable patterned jacket, appearing in spectacular fashion via a 180 degree rotating stage.  This entrance certainly ratified the transformation of four characteristically indie lads into the fully-fledged British rock icons that have built a continued love affair with their adoring fans over the years.      

The set mulled along on the night playing out the dazzlingly mesmeric AM in its near entirety, providing a multiplicity of well selected pick me ups on the way in the form of energetically charged classics from their inventory such as ‘Brianstorm’, ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ and ‘I bet that you look good on the dance floor’. 

Disappointingly, in this new era of the Arctic Monkeys cult classics that have besieged dingy indie clubs over the years, such as 'Mardy Bu'm and 'Teddy Picker', lay absent from the set list, and we're sure this disappointment was shared among others. Turner rounded off a classic performance with a finely selected encore that consisted of ‘One for the Road’, ‘I Wanna be Yours’ and ‘R U mine’ (below).  

The Monkeys once again delivered a set lathered in class, in which the masses were inherently acquainted with every last song lyric that passed Turner's lips. The love affair for this astute band will no doubt continue but you got the sense that, as well executed as this show was, it wasn’t quite an ‘I was there’ classic. That's undoubtedly due soon.

This Summer the Arctic Monkeys headline both Reading and Leeds festivals; head here for tickets to those. 

Like this? Also check out Review: Arctic Monkeys @ Phones 4 U Arena, Manchester.