My ears are still ringing with longing for more live music from Arctic Monkeys after their epic show at Webster Hall last night. I went to New York for the weekend and had to make sure seeing one of my favorite bands was part of that experience (even though I am seeing them again in Philly tomorrow night) and I am so glad I did.
The Arctic Monkeys show at Webster Hall last night was sold out…very sold out. I watched as countless people who bought fake tickets (they obviously thought were real) from scalpers turned away by security at the door. As a fellow fan, it was absolutely devastating to see. “A friend got me this ticket!” one girl cried, and security replied quite swiftly “Well, they are a bad friend”. It was brutal. But for fans that had real tickets, they couldn’t run up those stairs fast enough to find their spot on the floor.
The merch guys working for Arctic Monkeys were set up and ready for anything with mounds of merch behind them, working as quickly as possible as fans had no regard for lines or courtesy for each other. NY natives Drowners opened the show, getting people in the groove, but those grueling minutes of set change between Drowners and Arctic Monkeys seemed to last forever for fans. Looking around at the sea of people, who couldn’t stop cheering but also seemed to be getting restless, I mean… the anticipation we all felt was almost too much. This was the Arctic Monkeys first show back in the States after the release of their fifth consecutive #1 album AM and fans were reeling to hear it live. Then, the lights dimmed, Alex Turner walked out in a glittery coat, and we all knew-then more than ever- that we were in for something very special.
Arctic Monkeys played a killer set, a perfect mixture of their albums including some old favorites “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”, “Brianstorm”, “Teddy Picker”, and “Fluorescent Adolescent”; while perfectly segueing into new favorites including “R U Mine?”, “One For The Road”, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”, “Knee Socks” and the particular favorite of the ladies in the audience “Arabella”.
The band electrocuted the stage with so much energy it was almost hard for the crowd to keep up, but we definitely did…packed into that venue full of megafans waiting for this moment since they stopped touring and started writing and recording AM. The band played an encore and ended the show with one of my top favorite tracks, “505”. It couldn’t have been a better night, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what they have in store tomorrow night for the Skyline Stage in Philadelphia! By some miracle there are still some tickets left, so get yours (legally!) here and I will see you one the dancefloor tomorrow night!
For more Arctic Monkeys US tour dates click here!
Check out their cover of Drake’s “Just Hold On, We’re Going Home”:
xx Cher
