Only two days after playing the massive Coachella festival in the beautiful Southern California desert the Arctic Monkeys pulled into Los Angeles for an intimate affair at the Troubadour before embarking on their North American tour in support of their latest release Favourite Worst Nightmare. This was not to be missed for sure! I might be stretching a bit when I say this, but right behind the night when Eagles of Death Metal played the Troubadour in December 2005 I think this might have been the best crowd they’ve seen in there in years. The moshing never quite got out of control, but the dancing was rampant. Remember the pit during their set at Sasquatch 2006!? These fans love to dance!
The fellas took the stage just after 11PM and opened with “If You Found This It’s Probably Too Late” (sans the orchestral movement at the top; no backing tracks here) then dove straight into the current single “Brianstrom”. Joking with each other throughout, the mood was relaxed and jovial on stage with front man Alex Turner even poking a bit at a few of the audience members. The woman on the far side of the bar in the back “next to the gentleman in green” had a huge smile when she was pointed out. Maybe he wasn’t as kind to the guy in the flat hat, but that what he gets for wearing a flat hat. Naw, all in good fun, right!? Well, if you were there then you should know; and if you didn’t know, just consider yourself lucky to have been there. Remember when Radiohead played the Troub? Yeah, I wasn’t there either.
The 20 song set included a solid mix from both albums in just over an hours time. During “Mardy Bum”, Turner brought a smile to drummer Helders face with a slight lyric turn to “when you lose to Man U” (English futbol reference). That would spoil a perfectly good afternoon wouldn’t it? Highlights included “If You Were There, Beware”, “Leave Before The Lights Come On”, “Balaclava” and the addition to the set of “Flourescent Adolescent” before the closer “A Certain Romance”. My only disappointment is that they played neither “Temptation Greets You like A Naughty Friend” nor “505”. Can’t have everything. I’m just glad I have my new Leica to bring back all these photos, as the point and shoot type is all anyone could bring in.
Thanks though for an amazing night. I know the young ladies at the front certainly enjoyed. Next time bring up Dizzee Rascal and close it out with “505”. If I may request!
