TORONTO - Arctic Monkeys' most current album may be called Humbug, but their dynamic gig at Kool Haus on Tuesday night elicited a response that was anything but, "Bah, you know what."
A lightning bolt of musical energy lookingly struck the venue as the fresh-faced British rock quartet, aided by a touring keyboardist guitarist, delivered an exciting and fast paced hour and 20 minute set to a sold out crowd who responded with cheering, applause and the occasional sing and clap along.
After the young conference members engaged in a "Monkeys! Monkeys!" chant, the Sheffield pair kicked off the night with Dance Little Liar from Humbug and played no fewer than eights songs from the new disc with the standouts proving to be Crying Lightning and Potion Forthcoming, early in the gig, and Dangerous Animals, and My Propeller towards the end.
The band, led by confident and accomplished wordsmith and singer guitarist Alex Turner, last played in Toronto at the same venue, so the question now is why aren't they any bigger across the pond after three albums into their fast rising career?
Not only are they huge in England, but they've improved exponentially in a live setting with three of the four band members, Turner, bassist Nick O' Malley and guitarist Jamie Cook, sporting long hair which made for excellent hair whipping chsnce amidst a fondness for strobe lights and ultra loud sound.
Drummer Matt Helders was no wall flower either as he bashed his kit so hard and fast during the song Sketchhead it was no great that Humbug producer Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age nicknamed him "the Octopus."
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After that particular impressive display, Turner commanded: "Matthew Helders on drums. If you like him, tell him you like him Toronto!"
But truth be told it was older, more well known tunes like Brianstorm, Still Take You Home, I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, View From The Afternoon, Do Me A Favour, and Fluorescent Adolescent that made the crowd go absolutely nuts.
"You look good Toronto," said Turner, who moved to Brooklyn earlier this year where he's shacked up with MTV personality and fellow Brit Alexa Chung.
Right back at ya Alex.
The band also admirably tackled a Nick Cave cover Red Right Hand, whose title comes from a line in John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, during the encore complete with moody red lights and just the right amount of swagger.
Energetic, explosive and cooler than cool, Arctic Monkeys' performance proved just how vital rock 'n' roll can be.
SET LIST:
Dance Little Liar
Brianstorm
Crying Lightning
Potion Approaching
Pretty Visitors
This House Is a Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
If You Were There, Beware
Sketchead
Dangerous Animals
View From the Afternoon
Secret Door
Cornerstone
Do Me a Favour
Flourescent Adolescent
ENCORE:
Red Right Hand
My Propellor
505
A lightning bolt of musical energy lookingly struck the venue as the fresh-faced British rock quartet, aided by a touring keyboardist guitarist, delivered an exciting and fast paced hour and 20 minute set to a sold out crowd who responded with cheering, applause and the occasional sing and clap along.
After the young conference members engaged in a "Monkeys! Monkeys!" chant, the Sheffield pair kicked off the night with Dance Little Liar from Humbug and played no fewer than eights songs from the new disc with the standouts proving to be Crying Lightning and Potion Forthcoming, early in the gig, and Dangerous Animals, and My Propeller towards the end.
The band, led by confident and accomplished wordsmith and singer guitarist Alex Turner, last played in Toronto at the same venue, so the question now is why aren't they any bigger across the pond after three albums into their fast rising career?
Not only are they huge in England, but they've improved exponentially in a live setting with three of the four band members, Turner, bassist Nick O' Malley and guitarist Jamie Cook, sporting long hair which made for excellent hair whipping chsnce amidst a fondness for strobe lights and ultra loud sound.
Drummer Matt Helders was no wall flower either as he bashed his kit so hard and fast during the song Sketchhead it was no great that Humbug producer Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age nicknamed him "the Octopus."
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After that particular impressive display, Turner commanded: "Matthew Helders on drums. If you like him, tell him you like him Toronto!"
But truth be told it was older, more well known tunes like Brianstorm, Still Take You Home, I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, View From The Afternoon, Do Me A Favour, and Fluorescent Adolescent that made the crowd go absolutely nuts.
"You look good Toronto," said Turner, who moved to Brooklyn earlier this year where he's shacked up with MTV personality and fellow Brit Alexa Chung.
Right back at ya Alex.
The band also admirably tackled a Nick Cave cover Red Right Hand, whose title comes from a line in John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, during the encore complete with moody red lights and just the right amount of swagger.
Energetic, explosive and cooler than cool, Arctic Monkeys' performance proved just how vital rock 'n' roll can be.
SET LIST:
Dance Little Liar
Brianstorm
Crying Lightning
Potion Approaching
Pretty Visitors
This House Is a Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
If You Were There, Beware
Sketchead
Dangerous Animals
View From the Afternoon
Secret Door
Cornerstone
Do Me a Favour
Flourescent Adolescent
ENCORE:
Red Right Hand
My Propellor
505
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