Arctic Monkeys concert: Awake in the city that never sleeps

by Melanie Carmona, staff reporter

An English indie rock band, known as Arctic Monkeys, formed in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, in 2002. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jamie Cook (rhythm guitar,backing vocals), Nick O’Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Matt Helders (drums, percussion, backing vocals).

“[What I enjoyed the most from the performance was that] Alex was so true and he cared. The band is unbelievable and like no other,” Arctic Monkeys fan Ivanka Magne said.

Madison Square Garden welcomed the band on February 8th, at 8:00 pm, during their world tour for the fifth studio album, AM. Special guest Miles Kane, an English musician, joined the indie rock band for a special performance. The four previous studio albums, Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not, Favourite Worst Nightmare, Humbug and Suck It and See, were all represented during the show.

“I thought it was a great show. Alex rocked the crowd. He [had] so much personality,” Arctic Monkey fan Katie Settos said.

Deerhunter, an indie rock group and the opening act for Arctic Monkeys, spent a good hour trying to get the people going, but the band wasn’t well known among the audience. This was the setlist for Deerhunter:

1. Earthquake
2. Neon Junkyard
3. Don’t Cry
4. Revival
5. Desire Lines
6. Rainwater Cassette Exchange
7. Sleepwalking
8. Back to the Middle
9. Monomania

“I wasn’t really feeling the opening act. They were okay,” Arctic Monkeys fan Darcy Kyles said. “I just wanted Alex Turner on stage and them off it.”

Throughout the show, musician Miles Kane was welcomed on stage for two performances. He performed, “505,” from studio album Favourite Worst Nightmare, and later proceeded to perform during the encore. During the encore, Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane did a cover of “All My Loving,” by the Beatles, as a tribute to this weekend being the 50th anniversary of when they first appeared on “Ed Sullivan.”

“My favorite songs from the concert were 505 and Arabella; the lyrics are good,” Arctic Monkeys fan Louis Magne said.

The English indie rock band started the show with “Do I Wanna Know,” and then proceeded to perform a total of 20 songs. This was the setlist.

1. Do I Wanna Know
2. Brianstorm
3. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
4. Snap Out of It
5. Crying Lightning
6. Old Yellow Bricks
7. Fireside
8. Knee Socks
9. Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High
10. Arabella
11. Dancing Shoes
12. Pretty Visitors
13. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
14. Cornerstone
15. I Wanna Be Yours
16. Fluorescent Adolescent
17. 505 (with Miles Kane)

The Encore:

8. All My Loving (The Beatles cover ft. Miles Kane)
9. One for the Road
10. R U Mine?

“Before the doors even opened this evening, we were yours,” lead singer Alex Turner said to the crowd. “The question is though, are you mine, baby?“

With that, the band launched into “R U Mine?”.It was the last song performed, taking the concert to an end with one last spin.