Arctic Monkey's hometown gig in Sheffield- REVIEW
IT WAS a homecoming eagerly anticipated by thousands - the Arctic Monkeys' first gig on Sheffield soil for more than two years, played to a sell-out crowd at the Arena.
They reached a new level in the city with this gig, looking and sounding their best in a show centred around their latest album Humbug.
And they couldn't have asked for a better reception from the Steel City crowd, who created an atmosphere which was truly electric, bordering on frenzied at times.
Although very polite - Alex Turner telling the 12,000 people gathered that they looked "lovely" - the excitement wasn't really matched by the band on stage.
Homecomings can often be too gushing and over sentimental, but you couldn't help feeling this went to the other extreme, as he thanked them from beneath his curls as if it was just another UK city, rather than the hometown whose suburbs and landmarks pepper some of their early hits.
Indeed it was these "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" tracks which raised the biggest response, as people danced and chanted along to the likes of Still Take You Home, Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor and Scummy Man.
Their new single Cornerstone was also a highlight, before it was arms-in-the-air time for the impressive Secret Door.
It was standard indie band stage presence up to this point - albeit with some atmospheric smoke to announce their arrival on stage and clever lighting techniques - until glitter guns exploded at the final. Although that itself may be standard at an arena gig, the effect was still truly magical.
An encore of Fluorescent Adolescent - merged in with an audience-led verse of Mardy Bum - ended proceedings on a high note.
It was great to have them home - even if there was more sparkle in the swirling streamers than got anywhere near that stage.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
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