Our LA correspondents, Dominik & Grant attended last night’s gig and have shared the following review. Fifteen dollar parking fees and an endless traffic jam, all to finally see the great unveiling of the new material from Klaxons, who are opening up for the Arctic Monkeys at LA’s famed Palladium Theatre. Too good to be true? You betcha. Instead of the mysterious Klaxons (whose new ‘Sweetheart’ single hopefully is not an indication of what LP2 will sound like), we’re treated to The Like. WTF. The big & awkwardly shaped Palladium ensures fantastic sound but an overall terrible view for anyone under 6ft. Luckily the Monkeys were a lot more fun to listen to than to look at.
Read more & download an Arctic Monkeys tune AFTER THE JUMP…
Strikingly skinny, wearing jeans and a shoulder padded fitted suit jacket, Alex Turner comes off looking like a miniature member of The Black Crowes. The band opens with “Dance Little Liar” from this year’s Humbug. Neither of us are huge Humbug fans, but by the end we’re both won over by this one. It’s quickly followed by “Brianstorm”, which proves to be one of the rare instances where Favourite Worst Nightmare is represented. It’s a shame. That album has a lot more good tunes than the new one, guys.
That’s not to say the set was without its highlights. “Crying Lightning” is the tits, and they squeezed every ounce of juice out of it. Also, “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” and “This House Is A Circus” were crowd pleasers. Turner posed around the stage, obscured by his newfound mop of a hairdo (which, fyi no one likes) giving off a Jarvis Cocker-esque ambivalence to the proceedings. Working overtime was a kinetic lightshow that could give little Japanese kids seizures. But it all came together in that “fuck it, we’re Arctic Monkeys” kinda way. Despite some early promise, ultimately Humbug is failing to win us over. The band sounds great, tighter and more crisp than usual. Matt Helders, in particular, drums like a maniac trying his hardest to sell the appeal of each track. The band walks off the stage after a regretfully slow version of “Do Me A Favour”. But all is forgiven when the encore features both “Florescent Adolescent” & “505″ back to back, capping the evening perfectly. Recommended.
Wait? No “Riot Van”?
MP3: Arctic Monkeys – Diamonds Are Forever
