Something humbling, enthralling, inspiring and possibly dream crushingly depressing seeing an artist at the height of their force. There are a few gigs throughout your life that you know you have to be at. As soon as I’d heard this ARCTIC MONKEYS album (AM) once I bought 2 tickets the same day. A band at their peak, on the hallowed manor of The Arsenal? Nuff said.

We met in the Twelve Pins where I’ve laughed, drank and sung over the years, I haven’t cried there, but one of my brothers has when Nayim took a lucky swipe, safe to say it holds some memories and feels a little like a local. Anyways, the pub was heaving, great array of tunes on, including a rousing run out of Headshrinker by Oasis that split the men from the boys, whilst every Arctic track was greeted with cheers and sing-a-longs. That little corner of North London had clearly been Monkey magic’d and was well oiled indeed. Banter was in full flow in the toilet, and on each occasion it seemed that almost every northerner of the lairy variety had descended upon us, with the obligatory insistence that it’s ok to relieve yourself in the sinks. Decorum my northern brothers, please.

We streamed into the park but missed Royal Blood as we were trying to find a sure-footing somewhere, and ended up in pretty much the same spot I’d witnessed the Roses at their biblical best. Miles Kane came and went pretty much under the same flow as Royal Blood, but I was looking forward to seeing Tame Impala, ‘Elephant’ having long been a favourite on the Gigslutz show on Hoxton Radio. I don’t know if it was our location or the sound or the lack of stage lighting but it was definitely a little underwhelming.

The Monkeys had claimed in an interview leading up to the gig that this was their party, and it had that sort of vibe. They kicked off with with their swirling intro for ‘Do I Wanna Know’, and if you haven’t seen this tour then youtube it because it really is something to behold and gets you right in t’mood for t’opener! I can’t think of a more infectious riff since ‘Seven Nation Army’ can you?

As expected following what must now be a year of playing a similar set of tunes, the band sauntered through hit after hit and Alex Turner’s swagger was truly imperious. I’d been hoping that they played the Black Sabbath ‘War Pigs’ section I’d seen on a youtube clip of ‘Arabella’, and I wasn’t disappointed. They know their onions. Back to Turner for the moment, my personal opinion on the lad is that he should be taken to the bosom of this rock ‘n’ roll nation. We cry out when the masses let their brains rot at the hands of dick-tators such as Cowell and the like, and when we’re served up a plate of tepid fare leading invariably to some witless idiot becoming famous for a day, but when a character like Turner rises out of the celeb swamp, the nae sayers crawl out from under bitter rocks and deem it appropriate to throw stones. He’s the personification of a rock ‘n’ roll star. Uber confident, enigmatic, sexy, suave, funny, a little edge to him and the courage of his own convictions, not to mention a true word smith of the like that roll along once a decade if we’re lucky.

The setlist was a mixed bag and they sailed through its entirety with ease. It’s clear that they’ve achieved what only a few artists manage, and that’s to pen, not just one track but a handful that are intrinsically linked to the British psyche. His social commentary and depiction of thought – male and female – is truly wonderful, capturing the essence and imagery of a moment and setting it in a frame in your mind. Something the Jam did so well and the way that Turner’s lyrics scan, it shouldn’t work but it does. Big time. I sat on a train last week and read the lyrics to those tracks on the album that I didn’t have a full grasp on the words of, I left the train smiling to myself at Turner’s turn of phrase and sandpaper wit. Alex Turner Phrase? Has anyone coined that yet?

I’ll be honest as the 3rd or 4th track clocked up, I put the phone away and just enjoyed myself after that rather than take the obligatory notes and photos, and we moved for the exits just before Miles Kane came on stage during the encore to play an acoustic cover with Turner of The Last Shadow Puppets’ ‘Standing Next To Me’. (Slightly outshone by Turner’s gravitas even though Kane was holding the guitar).

If I had one negative point, which is hard to dig out and also serves as a back handed compliment; it’s that they seem so comfortable with their vaulted and deserved status at the top of a bill in front of the biggest audiences, that there seemed to be room in the tank for a bit more. Maybe I’m wrong and if I was in the front third I’d probably have viewed it very differently.

I couldn’t help but wonder where the band will go from here, have they peaked or have they got more gems in the locker? I imagine it’s the latter. Probably quite tempting to do something a little on the zany side, as we know they certainly have that in them.

What is for certain though, we should be proud of the lads from Sheffield. Lone Rangers riding through an open space for sure.

Set list:

Do I Wanna Know

Snap Out of It

Arabella

Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I Moved Your Chair

Dancing Shoes

Library Pictures

Crying Lightning

Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High

Fireside

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancfloor

She’s Thunderstorms

No.1 Party Anthem

Cornerstone (semi acoustic)

Knee Socks

Fluorescent Adolescent

505

Encore:

Standing Next to Me (acoustic with Miles Kane)

One for the Road

I Wanna Be Yours

R U Mine?

David Ham

@gigslutz_radio