Alex Turner, Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys)

Arctic Monkeys

with Smith Westerns

Revolution Live
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
October 8, 2011

Review by Michael Hernandez
Photos by Ashleigh Ahern

It's appropriate that a band from a land where the amount of precipitation matches the amount of people who pose for portraits on Abbey Road (it’s a lot) would carry the rainfall with them to the sunny side of South Florida. Arctic Monkeys not only brought the downpour, but they also brought what many of the fans expected them to be; a fast-paced rock show that never let up, much like the rain outside.

Arctic Monkeys already had high expectations for their South Florida trek, as they were one of the “gotta' see them” acts for the zombie-like Langerado Festival (It’s alive, it’s dead, it’s alive...make up your mind) that was recently cancelled. Still wanting to deliver, Arctic Monkeys and fellow Langerado headliners Smith Westerns were a sampler of the aforementioned festival. Smith Westerns opened the show for the sold out crowd with its brand of garage pop that offered hooky tracks and good vibes from frontman Cullen Omori along with the rest of the band. It was fitting that the stage was adorned with smiley-faced banners, since most in the audience gave them a warm reception. However, the enthusiasm was short-spent as Arctic Monkeys would be the one that absorbed all the shrieks from weak-kneed women and shouts from exuberant fans.

Cullen Omori - Smith Westerns

Entering the stage basked in candescent orange light, front-man Alex Turner glided on to the front, doing his best impression of a teenage John Lennon with a pompadour haircut and a suave aura. Sporting a leather jacket, Turner greeted the crowd, holding his arms up to the sea of fans and churned out their first song “Pretty Visitors” from their 2009 LP Humbug. This thumping rock song invigorated the crowd, as the energy wouldn’t let up. Turner addressed the throng with the cliche “Hello (insert city name here) we are the Arctic Monkeys” that segued into their single “Don’t Sit Down Because I Moved Your Chair.”

Even after their 2004 debut and years of maturation, they are still young kids that want to construct kick-ass songs that reverberate through your ear drums.

Alex Turner - Arctic Monkeys

A chorus filled with “yeah-yeah-yeah!” is always a safe bet to the get the crowd to join you in musical harmony, but Turner has an inviting quality about him that makes you want to sing along to every tongue-twisting syllable of the crowd-favorite “Fluorescent Adolescent.” It’s infectious and his sprightly disposition is an instant draw. One moment in particular was when he balanced himself on drummer Matt Helders’ kit and leaped off like a kid from a bounce house. Almost like he’s playing rock star, even though he is definitely rock star material in every sense of the word. Even after their 2004 debut and years of maturation, they are still young kids that want to construct kick-ass songs that reverberate through your ear drums. Turner has his tender moments too, leaning over to unsuspecting ladies in the crowd with his mic and gazing out, cream-like vocals washing over the fainting yelps of the females in the crowd (probably some guys, too).

Nick O'Malley - Arctic Monkeys

Fan favorites like “I Bet You Look Good on The Dance Floor” and “Still Take You Home” had the crowd mashing up together, and we all enjoyed the camaraderie of it. We weren’t begrudgingly stuck against fellow fans, and most had wide-eyed, open mouth expressions to their faces whenever they heard their favorite song playing. Mates had their arms wrapped around one another, swaying back and forth with a beer in their hand like they were back at the pub. Closer “505” ends on such a high bang that it punctuated the night perfectly, while everyone was looking good on the dance floor.

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