My previous Arctic Monkeys shows at the Astoria, Brixton, La Zonta Rosa and the megazone of Glastonbury really was no preparation for Alex Turner’s persona at the 02 last night. Like the Vaccines intro music, American Rock n Roll radio which they weren’t but, Alex Turner most certainly was.

Leather jacket, quiff, hair combed through a few times during the show (combs available on the merch stand). The new album continues the American odyssey the band seems to be in the midst of.

Matt Helders, is as much a star of the proceedings as front man Alex.  A more solid drummer  would be hard the find.  Thunder behind the kit and two out of three catches after the throwing the stick in the air segments. Jamie Cook and Nick O’Malley guitar and bass respectively continue to make this a growing band.

It takes some doing just to get your head around how far and fast this band they go but, there is still the dark humour and the earthy lyrics. A show just scrapping in at 90 minutes could have been much longer after four albums but it’s still a non stop music feast through those records.

Let’s hope next time out it’s not ‘American Express presents The Arctic Monkeys’!

Pete


Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair

Teddy Picker

Crying Lightning

The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala

Brainstorm

The View From The Afternoon

I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

Evil Twin

Brick by Brick

Dance Little Liar

This House Is A Circus

Still Take You Home

Pretty Visitors

She's Thunderstorms

Fluorescent Adolescent

Do Me A Favour

When The Sun Goes Down

Encore:

Suck It and See

Mardy Bum

(Acoustic)

505

(with Miles Kane)