Friday, December 11, 2009

Arctic Monkeys at Terminal 5

Alex Turner and the boys came back to New York this week to stun us all again with their beautiful and aggressive music. I'm pretty sure they used the same set list that Brooklyn Vegan posted from last night's show. At one point during "Potion Approaching" (I think) Turner belted out, "If you want my body and you think Im sexy, come on, sugar, let me know," a la Rod Stewart.

The Jeweller's Hands
Brianstorm
This House is a Circus
Still Take You Home
Potion Approaching
Red Right Hand (Nick Cave cover)
My Propeller
Crying Lightning
Sketchead
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
The View from the Afternon
Cornerstone
If You Were There, Beware
Pretty Visitors
Do Me a Favour
Fluorescent Adolescent -> Last Christmas (cover) -> Fluorescent Adolescent

Encore:
Secret Door
505

The crowd consisted of mostly young, rowdy kids, but I had fun in the pit. For some reason I wore my long coat the whole time, but at least I got my sweat on. Tomorrow morning my ankles will be covered in bruises, but they're war wounds well deserved, and Alex Turner makes everything worth it. His beauty and sexiness absolutely stun, not to mention the clarity of his angelic, and at times super intense, voice. He looks like a skinny horse straight out of 1963 Beatlemania, and his slow graceful movements interjected with spastic head-banging guitar bursts mirror the Monkeys' sound, now atmospheric and brooding, now angry and drunk, smashing a glass across the room in a crowded bar.

I was a late-comer (2005) to the Arctic Monkeys fan base, but these kids have done nothing but improve and negate all the shit-talking spewed by the naysayers. They continue to make great music and to evolve on their own terms, and I hope they cross the pond again soon. Thanks guys!