Live Review

Arctic Monkeys – Brixton Academy, London

• 2nd Sep 2009

There was something in the air that night. The buzz from the crowd lined up around the block of the Brixton Academy was electric. Little did this audience know they were about to experience rock music history in the making. It was the warm-up set for the Arctic Monkeys’ headline spot at Reading and Leeds this weekend and it proved to be some serious yoga stretching. Having not played live together for two years and with a new album out just days earlier, the boys from Sheffield had something to prove. And they did so in spectacular style.

However, it was the support act that sent shockwave through the crowd. Making their UK debut and their fifth ever live performance LA rockers Them Crooked Vultures stormed the Brixton Academy to a rousing reception. Led out on stage by Dave Grohl (back in his Nirvana comfort zone behind the drums), featuring Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and fronted by Queen’s of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme this super group stage had presence by the bucket load, exuding an understated, off the cuff cool.

After an hour of unadulterated heavy rock the lights went down and the audience were left to pick their jaws up off the ground. Dave Grohl hit the drums harder than Muhammad Ali, pounding out some incredible foot stomping beats. While John Paul Jones provided unique time signatures and shifting rhythms, during some songs he even jumped behind the keyboard. On `Caligulove’ the Hammond organ sound echoed out from the keys, giving the track a psychedelic feel. Homme, as ringleader, pulled it all together with authority using his powerhouse vocals. These progressive, complicated songs jumped from thunderous heavy riffs to floaty jazz tunes. During `Daffodils’ the stoner rock rhythms rocketed sky high, as the amp was cranked up to 11 and the musicians jammed like there was no tomorrow. The second last track `Nobody Loves Me, And Neither Do I’ had a more bluesy feel, showing the band’s diversity. Them Crooked Vultures finished the set with an untitled track lasting close to 10 minutes and often seeming like an improvised jam session, giving each musician a chance to showcase his overwhelming talent.

If Alex Turner and his Monkeys were feeling the pressure to follow up after such an unforgettable performance it didn’t show. They sauntered on stage, matching shaggy hairstyles swinging as they strutted. Opening with `Propeller’ from the new album `Humbug’ the crowd were curious but not immediately sold. The band then launched into a respectable Nick Cave cover, leaving little doubt that as a band they have earned their reputation as one of Britain’s best rock acts. The set was heavily weighted with tracks from the new album, co-produced by Josh Homme. These songs reveal a maturity and musical progression for the Arctic Monkeys. They are no longer the spotty teens playing pop rock with cheeky lyrics and simple beats. Songs from `Humbug’ are not only harder rock but sonically more complex. The audience responded positively to new single `Crying Lightening’, an atmospheric track enhanced by the lighting and smoke machines. As you would expect the biggest crowd reaction came when the band played old hits, such as `I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor’ and `Fluorescent Adolescent’, with frenzied dancing and singing along.

Them Crooked Vultures were a tough act to follow. On this night the once untouchable Arctic Monkeys were overshadowed. They had big boots to fill (both literally, with Homme towering over them a 6’5” redhead with overbearing presence, as well as metaphorically, with members of some of the greatest bands of all time, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana). On this occasion Turner and his mates were left looking like schoolboys, quivering in those boots. But they took on the big boys of the business and they should wear their battle wounds proudly.