Arctic Monkeys & The Vaccines is an ideal touring team for me. I was beyond pleased to have both my favorite band, as well as one of my favorite new bands, playing together on the same bill. It was a beautiful day at Central Park, I met one of my idols a few hours prior, and tons of friends were in attendance with me. It doesn’t get much better than that. It was my official kick off to summer 2011, and what a kick it was.
The Vaccines went on exactly at 7:30 and played for 30 minutes, on the dot. They impressed me immensely with how tight their playing has come along since I saw them in January. They played nearly every song from their debut album, along with their cover of The Standells/Minor Threat’s “Good Guys Don’t Wear White”. They even invited Minor Threat’s guitarist Lyle Preslar to join them for guitar duties. The crowd absolutely ate up The Vaccines stud singles: “If You Wanna”, “Post Break-Up Sex”, and “Nørgaard”. How could you not?
Justin’s mic had problems during “All In White” but the boys were able to move pass it and still deliver their usual sonic boom of a performance of the song, which is one of my favorite songs of the year. Everyone in the crowd seemed really impressed with The Vaccines. The guys have grown a lot in a short period of time. It’s a telling sign that now it’s only a matter of time until these guys truly blow up big.
Arctic Monkeys walked onstage with “American Woman” playing in the background. They didn’t waste anytime getting the crowd frenzied up, ripping into the dark excellence that is “Library Pictures”. My friends and I were smack up front and were getting violently pushed from behind at all times. The crowd got even more wild up with “The View From The Afternoon”, “Brianstorm”, “This House Is A Circus” & “Still Take You Home”. Can’t blame them. Those songs are meant to send us bat-shit crazy. The middle front section of the crowd got so physical that many fans had trouble keeping their balance, as people were going crazy pushing side to side, frontwards, and backwards.
“Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I Moved Your Chair” was played with feverish ferocity that would make Josh Homme very, very, proud. “Teddy Picker” has truly picked up more life on this current tour now that the boys have (rightfully) penned it back into their setlists. Same goes with “Potion Approaching” and “Pretty Visitors”, two songs that still benefit a great deal from the bands live energy. “Brick By Brick” was executed to the tee, proving that it really is a worthy addition to their dense catalog. Haters of the song really need to see the song live, it’s a completely different animal.
“If You Were There, Beware” and “Do Me A Favour” have become live staples for Arctic Monkeys that I can’t imagine them ever leaving out. They feature some of the tensest moments that act as an emotional release not only for the band, but for the crowd as well. The dark sounds originally found on them have really been fleshed out and fine tuned into what we all know as Arctic Monkeys in 2011. Things lightened up instantly during the encore which kicked off with “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala”, one of the true highlights from Suck It And See. Trust me when I say that this song deserves to be the bands 2nd single. It’s a crowd pleasure, there’s no denying that.
“When The Sun Goes Down” and “Fluorescent Adolescent” did the rest of the encore work, and the crowd went nuts in every way possible. Beer bottles were thrown, mosh pits were formed (yes, even during “Fluorescent”), and many crowd surfers were harshly tossed across a sea of sweaty, dehydrated Arctic Monkey fans of all ages, and sizes. Although many of us were beaten, tired, and probably annoyed with how crazy things were in the crowd, by the end of the show we were rewarded with the glory of an Arctic Monkeys show. There’s nothing like belting out lyrics to your favorite songs, by your favorite band, with some great friends.
For all of you in attendance last night at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, you know exactly what I mean. The electric atmosphere and connection with the band is unlike anything else out there.
I still believe the hype.
Arctic Monkeys:
Vaccines:
Library Pictures
The View From the Afternoon
Brianstorm
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I Moved Your Chair
Pretty Visitors
Teddy Picker
Crying Lightning
Cornerstone
She’s Thunderstorms
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Potion Approaching
Brick By Brick
If You Were There, Beware
Do Me A Favour
Encore:
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
When The Sun Goes Down
Fluorescent Adolescent
Vaccines Set List:
Under Your Thumb
Blow It Up
Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
All In White
Wetsuit
A Lack Of Understanding
If You Wanna
Post Break-Up Sex
Good Guys Don’t Wear White (Standells/Minor Threat Cover)
Nørgaard
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