Arctic Monkeys

[MEGABOWL]

Leeds fest 09. They were abysmal. Walked off after half an hour as I got bored. Few people I was staying with were pretty big fans and they were disappointed too.

[Lynne Scratch Perry]

absolutely they're still a big band. their latest album humbug is great and it reached number 1 which doesn't happen if you're not big. it takes a few listens to get into, so if you've never been an arctic monkeys fan you might give up too easily, but after the 2nd or 3rd listen i was even thinking "ok maybe this is even better than 'whatever people say i am that's what i'm not'" which we all know is considered one of the best rock albums on the 2000's. give humbug another listen.

oh and it's a cracking album to have a smoke to, if you're into that sort of thing. chilled, yet upbeat at the same time.

[Lynne Scratch Perry]

'whatever people say i am that's what i'm not'" which we all know is considered one of the best rock albums on the 2000's.

[LondonTom]

Tom, I'm really surprised by your comment about their live performance. i've seen them twice, once at cardiff international arena and once at ally pally, and both shows were magnificent. their set in cardiff in 2007 (a week before they headlined glasto) was the most intense gig i've even been to, and it remains my personal favourite performance by any act i've ever seen live.

did you by any chance see them when they headlined Reading? i watched that on tv and admittedly their performance there didn't blow me away, but i think that had a lot to do with the fact that they'd just released their new album and the crowd didn't know any of the tracks - so it was a bit wasted i think. i could be wrong of course, but that's the impression i got.

i've never heard anyone say they're shit live though (apart from that one time mentioned)

[1mills]

I loved first album and liked second album, couldn't get into the third at all.

Saw them live in 2007 at Old Trafford and then again in 2009 in the Echo Arena. Never really that impressed, but they weren't terrible either. The second time wasn't helped by the fact I didn't like the album they were touring.

That was the first time I'd gone to a gig and felt like I was about 10years too old to be there, based on the rest of the crowd.

I was 26

[happinessisawarmgun]

I really like the third album. Some cracking tracks and just generally a nice chilled vibe. Definitely refining their fan base somewhat, but they can't be 'young Sheffield lads on a night out' for their whole career.

Also 'Cornerstone' is my favourite Arctics song. Just a fantastic song.

[AdamSheff]

I really like the third album. Some cracking tracks and just generally a nice chilled vibe. Definitely refining their fan base somewhat, but they can't be 'young Sheffield lads on a night out' for their whole career.

Also 'Cornerstone' is my favourite Arctics song. Just a fantastic song.

[Poliwhirl]

I loved first album and liked second album, couldn't get into the third at all.

Saw them live in 2007 at Old Trafford and then again in 2009 in the Echo Arena. Never really that impressed, but they weren't terrible either. The second time wasn't helped by the fact I didn't like the album they were touring.

That was the first time I'd gone to a gig and felt like I was about 10years too old to be there, based on the rest of the crowd.

I was 26

[the_arsonist]

seeing them at reading 09 was painful. they were SO boring and i really liked the first two albums, everyone i spoke to agreed.

i went to see the blackout instead, were much better

[jimmyt]

I'm not for one moment suggesting it would happen but wouldn't they be a perfect Park headliner against U2 and Primal Scream? I don't think there'd be an overcrowding issue if they exactly clashed.

[godders1966]

Think you're as likely to see an Alex Turner solo set with his solo album out and a few Arctic tunes. They've become really dynamic as a band and its great to see them find their feet.

Edited March 10, 2011 by godders1966

[Poliwhirl]

Could be quite a possibility as his solo album comes out just before Glasto on 6th June.

next week! Sorry been misinformed

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I love them, but there's no way in hell they'll play announced now.

[Sketchead]

It's a bit tedious seeing people say they aren't impressed when they see them live. If you're expecting 4 cheeky teenagers singing about miserable girlfriends, getting punched on a night out and jumping taxis, then you're living in 2006. They're adults now, things change.

Edited March 11, 2011 by Sketchead

[Lynne Scratch Perry]

It's a bit tedious seeing people say they aren't impressed when they see them live. If you're expecting 4 cheeky teenagers singing about miserable girlfriends, getting punched on a night out and jumping taxis, then you're living in 2006. They're adults now, things change.

[1mills]

It's a bit tedious seeing people say they aren't impressed when they see them live. If you're expecting 4 cheeky teenagers singing about miserable girlfriends, getting punched on a night out and jumping taxis, then you're living in 2006. They're adults now, things change.

Edited March 11, 2011 by 1mills

[MEGABOWL]

It's a bit tedious seeing people say they aren't impressed when they see them live. If you're expecting 4 cheeky teenagers singing about miserable girlfriends, getting punched on a night out and jumping taxis, then you're living in 2006. They're adults now, things change.

[Messi30]

Another one who here was bored by them live in '06.

[rhysieg]

you can really hear josh homme's influence in their newer stuff...

[happinessisawarmgun]

Has anyone implied that that is the reason they aren't impressed when they see them live?

Surely what your talking about is the newer albums, rather than the live performances as you're just on about the lyrics????

They do still play them songs, together with the newer songs (which I didn't particulary like on the album).

I wasn't that impressed with them live. For the newer or older songs.

I was hoping that the new stuff would impress me live as often an album I don't love, comes into it's own after seeing them perform it live.

Didn't happen with them.

As I said saw in 2007 aswell and wasn't that impressed then.

[4AssedMonkey]

I like the Arctics and have seen them 3 times. First time unsigned at the Boardwalk in Sheffield - great. Second time just after "Whatever.." and they were great, and again at Sheffield Arena on the Humbug tour. I loved it and thought it was a good performance, but I like the newer stuff and can see that they're growing as individuals and as a band from album to album. Regrettably, most of Sheffield Arena that night couldn't. The crowd went mental to anything from Whatever and Brianstorm, but for the rest of it there were people heckling, throwing drinks at the stage and just stood around looking at each other as if to say "what the f**k is this? Never heard it!"

Crowd should have been ashamed generally speaking, but if you like ALL their stuff, you couldn't fault the performance.

Doubt they'll feature at Pilton though gang.

[Martin Ashford]

Good shout. I'd be very surprised if they don't appear on the Most Overrated Load Of Northern Whining Crap stage.

[LondonTom]

It's a bit tedious seeing people say they aren't impressed when they see them live. If you're expecting 4 cheeky teenagers singing about miserable girlfriends, getting punched on a night out and jumping taxis, then you're living in 2006. They're adults now, things change.

[bigcatmerv]

I was never a huge Arctic Monkeys fan, but last year I was staying with friends in Athens, Georgia (the town R.E.M. are from) and they were playing at the 40 Watt Club during my stay, which is an approximately 400 capacity venue in the town. I have to say it was a cracking gig. I thought the stuff from Humbug sounded much better live than it did on record, and it was brilliant to hear energetic versions of the 'classics' like '...Dancefloor'. My friend's friend is also the manager of the bar where the afterparty was being held, so I managed to meet them too, and they were really nice, affable lads, who took the time to chat to an English music fan who just happened to be in the same town as them on the other side of the world. Before that, I don't think I'd have been that fussed about them, but it was such a great night, I would definitely check them out again, no matter where on the bill they played. And I have to say, they would have to headline, or play a secret slot.

[1mills]

Bit confusing there are 2 arguments going, on here, one about their newer material and one about their live performances.