Over the past few years, I began to wonder if we’d ever get new music again from The Last Shadow Puppets. Getting new material would have been enough for me too. But the fact that they returned to not only give us Everything You’ve Come To Expect, one of the best albums of the year so far (the thing continues to grow and grow on me), but also some new live dates – well that’s just the cherry on top.
On April 11 they return to New York for a performance at Webster Hall, a very intimate venue for the group, whose stock has risen considerably just based on the fact that Arctic Monkeys grew so much with the release of AM, and the name of Turner has to be one of the most searched terms on tumblr. All jokes aside, the absence of Alex Turner and Miles Kane from the music scene as The Last Shadow Puppets only made the people crave a live show that much more, and the fact that it was held at Webster Hall made tickets that harder to get.
For those lucky enough to get into the building, they were first treated with an opening set from Cameron Avery, who many know as the bassist in Tame Impala. His solo work however is far removed from the sounds of Kevin Parker’s group, more of a soul-minded croon that actually fits very well on tour with The Puppets. Looking forward to see what else his solo career brings us before Tame Impala eventual return after a well needed break.
You knew immediately knew when The Puppets took the stage the instant that the high-pitched screams somehow managed to overtake even the intro music that Turner, Kane, and the rest of their live band (which includes Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford of Mini Mansions, Loren Humphrey of Guards, and their mini string-section) emerged from the shadows with. Just as they do on the album, they kicked things off with a rowdy take on “Aviation,” before giving us the first thing we ever heard from the band, “The Age Of The Understatement.” From there, they gave us a few new songs and a few old, before the heavy streak of new songs, “The Element Of Surprise,” “Dracula Teeth,” “She Does The Woods,” and “Miracle Aligner.” “Aviation,”
The new songs had more bite and power (“Bad Habits” is a monster) in the live setting, and all the old material featured new but faithful arrangements. Turner and Kane have really evolved as individual musicans with their respected projects, and it shows with their evolution of The Last Shadow Puppets. Turner’s voice is now able to create epic moments such as the final notes of “Sweet Dreams, TN,” and the poetic conclusion that is “The Dream Synopsis.” They offered up their epic cover of The Beatles “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and closed things out with a fun take on “Standing Next To Me.”
I waited years to finally say that I got to see The Puppets play, and their performance at Webster Hall sure didn’t disappoint.
Find The Last Shadow Puppets setlist posted below, along with a photo gallery of their entire performance, as well as opener Cameron Avery.
The Last Shadow Puppets Setlist:
1. Aviation
2. The Age Of The Understatement
3. Used To Be My Girl
4. Calm Like You
5. The Element Of Surprise
6. Dracula Teeth
7. She Does The Woods
8. Miracle Aligner
9. My Mistakes Were Made For You
10. Only The Truth
11. Bad Habits
12. Pattern
13. Everything You’ve Come to Expect
14. Meeting Place
15. Sweet Dreams, TN
16. In My Room
Encore:
17. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (The Beatles Cover)
18. The Dream Synopsis
19. Standing Next To Me
Cam Avery:
The Last Shadow Puppets:
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