With nostalgia bleeding into every note, Arctic Monkeys took to the United Center stage on August 27th for the second show of their North American tour.
Whether it’s the porthole screen that projected a ’90s filtered look of the live performance, the band’s effortless style or British charm, the crowd of 20,000 strong were hanging on every word that lead singer Alex Turner had to bestow.
Since the band was formed over 20 years ago, I expected the crowd to be of a more mature age, yet I was met with an eager barricade of mostly those in their teens and early 20s—even seeing young children with their parents, excitedly pressing their bedtimes.
Opening with “Sculptures of Anything Goes” from their 2022 album The Car, the indie band then moved back in time to their 2000’s hit “Brainstorm.” The sheer range of emotions, tempos and genres explored while all still sounding exactly like the Arctic Monkeys is a feat not many bands can execute with such grace. Speaking to The Guardian in 2022, Turner expressed of his songwriting journey, noting that “you have to be comfortable with the idea that things don’t have to be a pop song.”
As the first beat of their claim to fame hit “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” rang out, a symphony of phones rose into the air to record the iconic melodies—myself included. With the majority of their shows already sold out for the US leg of their tour, I’m happy to report the Arctic Monkeys—nor their fan base—show any signs of slowing down. If you’re lucky enough to score a ticket, prepare to be singing their impressive discography of hits long after the curtain falls.
