arctic monkeys was good, not great, for a sold out show you would expect a better crowd.

Weird, the flags they're holding up are Smashing Pumpkins flags -- some sort of promotional tool for the new record I believe.

My thoughts on the Arctic's is here.

http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2007/05/sheffield-on-hudson.html

The crowd was pretty rowdy near the front - mosh pit & many crowd surfers.

i gotta say i'm disappointed by the monkeys show....definitely a cd band....i mean they did sound good live but had no stage presence whatsoever....pretty boring...didn't try to get the crowd into the show although the front of the crowd was getting off on their own w/the crowd-surfing (btw who crowdsurfs anymore??? was i at a limp bizkit show???) im sure i'll have a way better time tonite at the !!! show @ bowery....word!

too many kids

people can label their pictures however they want-- take your own fucking pictures if you don't like it

arctic monkeys last night…sounded more like the chili peppers than the clash…impressive musicianship, but bad sound system and really muddy vocals…alex turner's thick accent was not helped by the constant amplified low end hum of some ungrounded piece of equipment...without the ability to make out the lyrics...not so great...toobad...they sounded so good on snl live with a good mix i hoped for the same at hammerstein

arctic monkeys last night…sounded more like the chili peppers than the clash…impressive musicianship, but bad sound system and really muddy vocals…alex turner's thick accent was not helped by the constant amplified low end hum of some ungrounded piece of equipment...without the ability to make out the lyrics...not so great...toobad...they sounded so good on snl live with a good mix i hoped for the same at hammerstein

Arctic Monkeys were fucking great.

arctic monkeys last night…sounded more like the chili peppers than the clash…impressive musicianship, but bad sound system and really muddy vocals…alex turner's thick accent was not helped by the constant amplified low end hum of some ungrounded piece of equipment...without the ability to make out the lyrics...not so great...toobad...they sounded so good on snl live with a good mix i hoped for the same at hammerstein

I was impressed with the Arctic Monkey's improvement from last year. Last year at Roseland I was pretty disappointed by their stage presence, but this year they seemed to be more comfortable and definitely more talkative (might have something to do with the fact Alex Turner was a bit of a babbling drunk...entertaining nonetheless). I thought they were good, really enjoyed myself.

arctic monkeys last night…sounded more like the chili peppers than the clash…impressive musicianship, but bad sound system and really muddy vocals…alex turner's thick accent was not helped by the constant amplified low end hum of some ungrounded piece of equipment...without the ability to make out the lyrics...not so great...toobad...they sounded so good on snl live with a good mix i hoped for the same at hammerstein

the sound at hammerstein makes every show there worse, but otherwise i was happy with it. the crowd seemed pretty into it from where i was in the back. the new songs sound great live. The lead singer definitely interacted more with the crowd than when i saw them two times last year. They still dont interact as much as other bands, but i dont go to a show to hear the band interact with the crowd.

Speaking of shitty sound, I was at Luna Lounge in Williamsburg last night, and it was a muck-filled mush of noise masquerading as rock. Terrible.

I almost died. Hate mosh pits and crowd surfers. It was unexpected. Didn't happen the last few times they played.

I had a blast at the show last night. This is excerpted from my music blog:
http://theweightonline.blogspot.com/2007/05/monkeys-take-manhattan.html

I had been waiting for months to finally see the monkeys live after hearing 'Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' and being blown away by the catchy riffs, incredibly clever and anthemic lyrics, and the excellent musicianship of a band barely into their 20's. So the night finally came last night.

I was expecting a rowdy crowd and group singalong in the realm of the Oasis DVD "Familiar to Millions". Instead during the majority of the show, which I thought was fantastic, there was a pleasantly excited crowd on the floor and a somewhat subdued and seated crowd on the mezzanines. Where were the rowdy expats, the wasted frat pack, and the young teen girls all dolled up to maybe meet the band (or at least one of the lookalikes in the crowd). Sure there was a little representation from the above groups, but no where near what I had thought. I did notice a kid, maybe 12 years old, wearing an Arctic Monkeys t-shirt, right by the bar no less, and happily singing along to every freaking word. God bless him.

The songs were tight, Alex and the lads were in good spirits although I think somewhat surprised by the "nice" crowd, the new songs blended pretty well with the older ones, and I had a grin on my face for most of the show. The sound was really quite nice with each instrument and the voices mixed very well.

Highlights were 'Teddy Picker' from the new album Favorite Worst Nightmare and 'Fake Tales of San Francisco','When the Sun Goes Down', and 'Certain Romance' from WYSIATHIN. In a move they must have certainly learned from 'The Strokes' (AM is unabashed fans), there was no encore. Just alot of disgust and odd looks when the house lights came on.

I couldn't help but smile as for 75 minutes, I was right where I should have been. Enjoying a phenomenal band on their continued rise to the top in the world's greatest city.

The crowd was half little girls and half soccer hooligans. I was 3rd from the front. Enough said.

Did anyone see Be yr own pet? They probably stole the show...

I'll have ya'llz know . . . at the show everyone SHOULD have been at last night---Silversun Pickups---there was some dude crowdsurfing! And brian was just rollllling his eyes, and then lectured the crowd on jumping around but in a straight line and not knocking down short girls who go to rock shows! He won my heart with that line.

Hey BV! Why no "how were the Cass McCombs shows"?

I'm sure the Beirut show 2 sundays ago was great, but so was Cass McCombs at the Mercury Lounge with Arbouretum.

You posted about those dates a while back, so how come no coverage about the actual shows? Or even a question to your lovely readers?

It was an incredible performance BTW, with a great crowd that held the perfect balance of attitude and enthusiasm, not afraid to have expectations and pretentions, but also not afraid to be vulnerable as they were truly moved by the music. Old and young in attendance. Healthy drunks and the sober lame were all there. Bands and managers (but not with each other, sorry Bazan).

Please pay attention to Cass, he's better than most in this buzz world. Beirut is great, sure, but that kid can't hold a pail.

i looooveee the arctic monkeys but i still dont know how to feel about the show. i reallllly wanted to go to the front but the people were going crazy! i mean i dont mind jumping or dancing but when it comes to the point where people cant breathe, that just sucks. some of the time i was bein pushed around so much, i didnt have enough breath to even sing along. it was good and all but i felt like i was more concerned with keeping my balance and trying not to be knocked down or hitting other people than actually enjoying the Arctic Monkeys.
overall though, i love the Arctic Monkeys and wouldnt trade it for the world

I felt bad for them, having to stare at such a lame crowd while they were playing their asses off. I was on the floor where people were having fun, but everytime I looked up into the balconies, I was completely annoyed. Stand the hell up, people, it's a rock concert! Otherwise, I was quite happy with the show. Alex Turner's voice sounded really great. And I am soooo for the no encore thing & wish more bands would do that.

I had been meaning to see be your own PET for some time too...they were fun. I never realized how young they actually were though, shouldn't have been as shocking as it was to me (even if they are older than me, I expected a much older looking band). Jemina (I think I spelt her name right) is out of her mind, but she has great stage presence.

I was up against the barrier in the center, my stomach is all bruised up and so is my hip but I still had tons of fun so I don't mind it.

Arctics were amazing! I don't really see why it matters if they talk to the crowd or not - they play fucking great tunes. I go to live gigs to hear music, not hear a monologue from the frontman.

arctic monkeys were insanee last night.

And I am soooo for the no encore thing & wish more bands would do that.

thats retarded pls die

i took aLL those photos!!! i feel so honored haha thank you! :)

So why'd you tag them "Arctic Monkeys," you major label pissant?

It's absurd that every band performs an encore following their set. An actual encore would mean more if bands weren't expected to add a mini-set at the end of each show.

I agree. Encore thing is plain stupid. Alex was like, "I'm going to play three more songs - 1 2 3. And then they played hard for three songs and it was over. Fuck the encore. It's stupid.

Benny G was great.

be your own pet SUCKS!!! like most bands referenced in the blogsphere.

my nephew and i are in agreement - arctic monkeys purposely picks the absolute shittiest bands on earth (be your own pet, we are scientists) to open for them to highlight just how superior the arctic monkeys are to EVERYTHING else out there.

britain will always produce more clever, literate and exciting music than anything this junk culture will ever spit out.

Dear Anonymous @ May 17, 2007 7:51 AM,

I'm sorry that you are too lazy to find "clever, literate and exciting music" from America. I'm sorry that the Arctic Monkeys are the best thing on your radar. I'm sorry that you're going to respond negatively to this, if at all.

I hope the Arctic Monkeys continue to be fulfilling to you in your many years to come.

Sincerely,

William

Spinto Band and WaS were good opening bands. However, I have to agree that Be Your Own Pet were awful.

ryan, your blog blows. that's why we're here. this is actually an interesting blog. you see the difference?

Ben Gibbard was amazing. I have been a huge fan of DCFC for many years and have seen them multiple times, and was very excited to see Ben out on his own. He played a lot of great songs, but didn't play 405 which was suprising. (He did play it the next night in Philly however)

For fans of Ben, def check out Andrew Bird!

http://www.fan2band.com/dynamiclink/62635_217_41_904

my goodness, brooklynvegan, i was thinking exactly the same thing yesterday!

honestly arctic monkeys are easily one of the most overrated bands of all time. run of the mill brit rock, and the new album is fucking atrocious

Arctic monkeys were absolutely on point Wed night, Hammerstein is a bit of a shitty venue however they were engaging (as I've ever seen them and that was my 4th time) and moved around more than I've ever seen em. Be Your Own Pet was disgusting, much better recorded (if you like that kind of shit) but live they were horrible - oh and We Are Scientists and Spinto Band were great openers...WAS could def. headline by now though.

Arctic monkeys were absolutely on point Wed night, Hammerstein is a bit of a shitty venue however they were engaging (as I've ever seen them and that was my 4th time) and moved around more than I've ever seen em. Be Your Own Pet was disgusting, much better recorded (if you like that kind of shit) but live they were horrible - oh and We Are Scientists and Spinto Band were great openers...WAS could def. headline by now though.

p.s. douchebag, flickr is a free site. its generally for personal use. so people like you who search for photos on flickr and then complain on their blogs when bobby doesn't label his vacation pictures correct are, to be honest, idiots. if you want to look for pictures, go to google. or the arctic monkeys website. or myspace. not to a personal picture uploading website. thats like searching on photobucket. awesome.

kristin = small brain

arctic monkeys are amazing. i can NOT stop listening to the new record. when do they tour canada? i have to see them soon..... and why do they have so many soccer fans. seriously...am i missing something?

arctic monkeys are amazing! i can NOT stop listening to their new record. i have to see them live. but why do they have so many soccer fans....seriously....am i missing something?

kid & i caught am show at electric factory in philly night before. my 2nd, her 3rd show. lads expended alot more energy last year (1st n.a. tour) "wooing" (insulting) that crowd. deart of soccer hooligans / ex-pats at latest show. am didn't exactly mail it in. crowd was ecstatic if too easily wowed. alex mentioned having had fun last time in town at starlight ballroom - when he himself crowd surfed and the boys, inc. then-bassist andy tossed a few back at bar apre - can honestly say very glad we weaseled our way to front, stage left - fenced away from center stage crowd who were berserking. BIG kids (MALES) crowd surfed non-stop. My own 22 y.o.'s @90 pounds and if she were in there i'd lost my mind worrying. alas, may be / are getting too big too fast. "curiosity's (and fame's) a heavy load". credit where due, i eyeballed alex throughout via a monocular - he's still not believing the hype. a very grounded & painfully talented, if inebriated young man. god bless am.