Arctic Monkeys perform at United Center in Chicago on Aug. 27, 2023.
When the Arctic Monkeys – Jamie Cook (guitar), Matt Helders (drums), Nick O’Malley (bass) & Alex Turner (vocals, guitar, piano) – played “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball,” the lead single from their 2022 album The Car, at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 27, a giant Monkeys-branded disco ball illuminated the packed stadium. This created a beautiful scene as tiny bits of swirling light reflected across the smiling faces tucked into every inch of the venue.
The music of the Arctic Monkeys connects with fans on a deeply personal level. Looking around as the mirrorball spun, it felt like every member of the audience was in the running to be named the group’s biggest fan. The moment was made extra special by a collective feeling that there was nowhere anyone would rather be on this summer night in Chicago. Perhaps this closeness with fans is fostered by the way Turner and company lyrically evaluate themselves, and the place they hold in the world, with each and every release. Maybe it’s the group’s iconic guitar riffs and driving drums or their irresistible swagger – that becomes all the more apparent in a live setting – that continue to draw in new listeners. Most likely, it’s all of the above.
Simply put, the Arctic Monkeys are a great band. These English rockers, with a penchant for loungey melodies, effortlessly blend a vintage aesthetic with one eye always facing towards the future. With a setlist spanning their entire career, the Chicago concert was further proof that the Arctic Monkeys can do no wrong.
Arctic Monkeys perform at United Center in Chicago on Aug. 27, 2023.
“Sculptures of Anything Goes” opened the night with moody percussion giving the band a chance to reintroduce themselves to the Chicago crowd for the first time since the pandemic shut down touring. The song beautifully encapsulated the confidence and insecurities that swirl around anyone who challenges expectations, something the Arctic Monkeys do with an ever-present sense of what is about to be considered cool. Later, “Four Out of Five” conjured Bowie-esque vibes as Turner sang of “old grey whistle test lights” in front of a screen that looked like it was capturing footage for the iconic BBC show. The band also gave a wink and a nod to Black Sabbath during “Arabella” by emphasizing the heavy riffs of the chorus that bring “War Pigs” to mind.
“We’d like to play for you now a number from our first LP, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. This one is called ‘The View from the Afternoon,’” Turner said to thunderous cheers introducing the fan favorite that was born in the mid-aughts.
AM also got a lot of love throughout the night with “Snap Out of It” provoking a dance party from the 300 level seats on down to the floor while “Do I Wanna Know?” – with its bluesy licks, thumping rhythms and sultry falsettos – was seemingly captured on every phone in the venue. Elsewhere in the night, it was almost hard to hear Turner’s vocals over those of fans during “Fluorescent Adolescent” while “Potion Approaching” – and its commanding cadence – was a somewhat surprising and very welcome addition to the setlist.
Earlier in the evening, the Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. opened up with a set comprised of songs from their albums Skinty Fia, A Hero’s Death, and Dogrel. Chilli Jesson – of Palma Violets fame – played bass with Grian Chatten and company who performed each song with the perfect blend of menace and rebellion.
Every few months it seems there is a renewed conversation surrounding the place of rock and roll in the modern musical landscape. If rock stars are in fact endangered, it looks like the Arctic Monkeys – with their fearless passion for evolving and pushing the sound of the genre forward – are poised to save the entire species.
The Arctic Monkeys’ North American Tour continues through Oct. 1. Check out photos from the Chicago performance below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information about upcoming shows at the United Center can be found at LiveNation.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
