On September 23, English alternative indie rock band Arctic Monkeys brought their North American Tour to the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The diverse audience showed that this band appeals to many demographics.
The opening act for their concert was a post-punk Irish band, Fontaines D.C. Their set was only notable because of their song ‘Televised Mind,’ which has continued to live in my ears like a Otodectes cynotis. In addition to the needless flashing lights that made me nauseous, the piercing shrill of the singer echoed in my ears. This prevented me from enjoying any portion of their set. I initially assumed the band was harsh and flat because of poor live audio mixing, but I recently listened to their music again and my mind hasn’t changed.
When Arctic Monkeys came on, it was a saving grace. As a huge fan already, their set transcended my expectations and left me in a state of euphoria. The only criticism I have is they played into the encoré cliché. However, the band played 21 of their best hits, ranging from their newest album, ‘The Car,’ to their first EP, ‘Who The F*** Are Arctic Monkeys?’ released in 2006, so maybe they just needed a quick break from their set to have some water.
For the duration of the show, the crowd remained energetic and engaged. I have never seen more women swoon than when lead singer Alex Turner removed his sunglasses during the first song. Other highlights include the sea of lights cast from audience phones during ‘Pretty Visitors,’ the light reflected by the hanging disco ball during ‘505’ painting glitter across the venue, and the iconic guitar riff from ‘Do I Wanna Know,’ which made the crowd go wild.
If this band is not already on your radar; I urge you to give them a listen. I swear I will see them again and if they do not come back to tour in North America, I will spend my money and travel to the UK.
