GIG REVIEWS
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GIG REVIEWS |
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Artic Monkeys
@ Leeds University 1.02.06 www.vanguard-online.co.uk
Despite being on support, there was no doubt who people were here to see and it was simian. Taking their reputation and waving it in the air, the Monkeys opened with the singles When The Sun Goes Down and I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. Saves wondering when they are going to trot them out!
Last time they were in Leeds they hadn’t yet released a single, though it was only a few months ago. Packing out the Blank Canvas venue they were frenetic and loved. Tonight they were polished and loved. They’d taken some time to structure the set and worked out an act beyond hammering out the songs – and they wear it well. The sound is very clear, the words audible and their pop lineage is up on show. And, for a lot of people, the Artics are about the words, certainly the half of the crowd that is bouncing is singing too.
But kudos to the guitar and bass – without their extreme tightness the lyrics would have nothing to ride on and no rhythm to play against. They are the two that look least the part. Against the bug-eyed front man, the bass is prosaic and the guitarist looks about 14 in his jumper. They all look frighteningly young, sporting fresh faces and acne behind the attitude.
“The next time we come back we’ll play a stadium or something. We’ll play for three hours and have special guests and stuff”. Yeah, right… But the polish is already showing and, not only do we get some ripping guitar middle-eight blasts, but we are treated to a bongo solo – look out Ginger Baker!
The nice thing about the Monkeys is they still don’t have enough material to wear us out so after a brief album-length set, they leave us wanting so much more.
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