Bands like Arctic Monkeys, bands that ram into the world and actually influence their own generation and the one right behind them, come around every 20 years or so. They’d also rightly influence musicians who have been on the scene longer, and with their fourth album, Suck It And See, they’ve shown again why they are a revered yet riotous band. Singer/guitarist Alex Turner has maintained his momentum as one of the key voices and keen lyricists of his time, and his delivery of those lyrics on Wednesday evening was spot-on. Arctic Monkeys’ music is intricate – though never convoluted – with changes in tempo, mood, lyrical meaning all within a single song. When you let yourself just go within their music – you are just that – gone and become one with it.

There’s a sultry and tempting sound to this band, in their vocals, in their pounding bass, in their sophisticated drums, and in their absolutely wicked guitars. New songs from Suck It And See got a great response from the packed crowd, and the more familiar songs such as “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” “Fluorescent Adolescent,” “When the Sun Goes Down,” “Still Take You Home,” and “Crying Lightning” received frenzied helpings of jumping, crowd surfing and/or serious audience concentration as appropriate.

Arctic Monkeys

Set List & Fans

Review & all photos by Dagmar

Gallery of Arctic Monkeys @ Showbox SoDo

Set List, Broken Down by Album

Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not:

Still You Take Home
The View From the Afternoon
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
When the Sun Goes Down

Suck It And See:

Library Pictures
All My Own Stunts
Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
She’s Thunderstorms
Brick By Brick
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
Suck It And See

Favourite Worst Nightmare:

Brianstorm
This House Is a Circus
Teddy Picker
If You Were There, Bewared
Do Me A Favor
Fluorescent Adolescent
505

Humbug:

Pretty Visitors
Crying Lightning
Potion Approaching