The Arctic Monkeys Usher In A New Era
After four years, the Arctic Monkeys debuted their new album during an intimate performance at The Kings Theater
COURTESY OF WILL OLIVER
Alex Turner, Matt Helders, Jamie Cook and Nick O’Malley of the Arctic Monkeys performed songs from their unreleased album, “The Car.”
October 12, 2022
Taking a stroll down Flatbush Avenue on Sept. 22 would be enough for anyone to revel in the nostalgia of 2014. The crowded sidewalk filled with eager fans adorned in Dr. Martens, fishnet tights, plaid skirts, black jeans and old graphic T-shirts could only mean one thing: The Arctic Monkeys were back in town.
The Arctic Monkeys took the stage for their first headlining show in the United States since 2019 at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn to play their unreleased album “The Car,” which will be available on Oct. 21.
In a relatively small setting of only 3,000 fans, the band debuted never-before-heard songs, and they wanted to mitigate the risk of the music being leaked to the public. Phones were required to be locked in magnetic pouches upon entry at 7 p.m. Many in the crowd huffed in annoyance at this ruling, but it allowed fans to be in the moment; time was of no concern.
As fans were ushered into the theater, jazz music accompanied the light fog of smoke that arose from the stage. There was no opening act, and soon, the fog grew heavier, the lights dimmed, and the crowd cheered. The Arctic Monkeys hit the stage at roughly 9:30 p.m. Upon their entry, a disco ball fell from above the stage as the band’s frontman Alex Turner strutted to the piano and kicked off the night with the band’s newly released single, “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball.” The melancholic tune swirled throughout the theater, creating a sense of intimacy. Without a phone in sight, the crowd was in for a treat.
Turner jumped into “One Point Perspective” from their last studio album “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino,” which was released in 2018. The Monkeys took the crowd through every era of their music in an hour and a half set, performing a total of 22 songs from their six studio albums.
The electricity amplified when the Monkeys launched into a set of songs from what is undoubtedly their most popular album, “AM:” “Snap Out of It,” “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” and “Arabella.” The crowd erupted into fan-formed mosh pits, Dr. Martens passing overhead as people crowd surfed. The energy was intense in the most delightful way, reminding me what a real concert feels like.
The show was over, but one thing was made apparent — the Arctic Monkeys are officially in a new era.
The band kept talking to a minimum, letting the music speak for itself. Turner then paused to welcome fans to New York City and introduced a song from “The Car” entitled “Body Paint.” Shying away from their usual rock melodies, “Body Paint” was accompanied by an upbeat tempo composed of airy piano riffs and Turner’s genius lyricism.
As the night progressed, the band would rewind the times and take the music back to 2006, playing “From the Ritz To the Rubble” and “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” from their debut album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.”
Before the encore, Turner introduced the rest of the Arctic Monkeys band members: Matt Helders on drums, Jamie Cook on guitar, and Nick O’Malley on bass guitar. Thanking the crowd for the night, the band escaped the stage, and fans clapped for the encore to begin.
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The night was coming to a close. For the band’s three-song encore, Turner graced the stage with his guitar, accompanied by touring pianist Tom Rowley, and debuted “Mr. Schwartz.” The live version of the song encompasses a soft love song with the piano carrying the melody throughout the song.
The rest of the band entered the stage, ready to conclude the night. Playing “Cornerstone” off of “Humbug” and, finally, afer only one chord of “505” off of “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” the Arctic Monkeys provoked screams throughout the venue. The pit shook the floor as fans danced, screamed and crowd surfed. Turner stood at the head of the stage and blew kisses to the crowd, and just as quickly he had emerged from the fog, he disappeared. The show was over, but one thing was made apparent — the Arctic Monkeys are officially in a new era.
