A very subdued show, and very different in feel to their PNE Forum appearance in September/07.Perhaps it was the smaller outdoor venue, or that they are touring to support Humbug, a very different sounding album to Favourite Worst Nightmare. All that southwest US/Tarantino/Western themed music. I'll confess I'm not a big fan of their direction this album, but don't mind it in small quantities. Crying Lightning is awesome and I LOVE the Nick Cave cover Red Right Hand. That's been a fave song of mine for 15 years and is a perfect example of the sound the Monkeys are aiming for on Humbug. Hearing those live was a treat, but I was there to hear the stuff of their first two albums.
I wasn't disappointed by the setlist. Quite clever actually. Woven together, the Arctic Monkeys played all ten tracks off Humbug and ten songs from the first two albums, seven off Nightmare and three from Whatever People Say I Am. I would have loved to hear Teddy Picker, A Certain Romance, and Fake Tales of San Francisco but I heard them last time. I was happy they included This House is a Circus and, of course, Dancefloor, which was amusingly modified.
These boys are not what I would call showmen, standing rooted to one spot during the whole show, and very few words to or acknowledgment of the audience, but I have to concede the music is great to experience live. The Monkeys are musically acclaimed for a reason.
Setlist:
Dance Little Liar
Brianstorm
Crying Lightning
Potion Approaching
Pretty Visitors
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
If You Were There, Beware
Sketchead
My Propeller
Red Right Hand
Dangerous Animals
The View From The Afternoon
Cornerstone
Only Ones Who Know
Do Me A Favour
Secret Door
Fluorescent Adolescent
505
