Music / Reviews
Review: Arctic Monkeys, Ashton Gate – ‘As the sun went down, the songs got almost hedonistic’
Arctic Monkeys kicked off their UK tour at Ashton Gate on Monday in the stadium’s first and only gig for 2023.
With tickets selling out in less than half an hour, it was no surprise to see thousands of people flock to the stadium on a sunny evening to catch the Grammy nominated band.
Opening the night with their track Mardy Bum, the Sheffield indie-rock band knew exactly how to please the crowd. The energy was unmatched, flares went off, people went up. It was like being transported back to 2006.
There really was a mirrorball – photo: Issy Packer
The visuals were incredibly impressive, with the camerawork having a 70s haze filtered on it. It appeared almost like documentary footage on the screens as it filmed the band performing on stage.
Alex Turner exuded cool as he dominated the stage, switching between playing electric guitar, acoustic guitar and singing, it felt like watching a young Mick Jagger – who famously played here at Ashton Gate with the Rolling Stones in 1982.
The band have gone through several different iterations since they formed and there was a risk that they might not perform some of there most beloved tracks but the band assuaged our fears as they worked through their back catalogue at record speed.
From Crying Lightning to Teddy Picker and Arabella, Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High? and I Wanna Be Yours, they moved seamlessly from one era to the next, each song having the signature Turner twang.
The crowd got pretty emotional when the band performed Fluorescent Adolescent – photo: Issy Packer
It wasn’t just Turner who shone though. The rest of the band, particularly guitarist Jamie Cook, provided sensational guitar riffs and backing melodies.
With a full accompaniment of eight people at one point, the band have never sounded better.
As the sun went down, the songs got almost hedonistic, there was a sense of freedom and release as the crowd relished the moment. It was over all too soon.
As the song from their 2018 album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino goes: four out of five.
Main photo: Issy Packer
Read next:
- Arctic Monkeys are set to take to the stage in Bristol
- Review: Elton John, Ashton Gate – ‘Hit after hit but didn’t hit the heights’
- England hit Belgium for six at sold-out Ashton Gate
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