Arctic Monkeys: Old Trafford

Then again, that must be something the four Sheffield lads have considered before, what with the number one singles, the fastest-selling debut album ever, the Brit Awards, and their Glastonbury headline slot.

Now they can add to their incredible story two massive nights at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket landmark.

Even so, gazing out on an audience bigger than the population of your home postal district must surely still be a little beguiling. For it seems barely five minutes ago these lads were playing to a crowd 1,000th of the size down at The Grapes on Trippet Lane.

Not that the increasingly chirpy Alex Turner and chums ever seen fazed by anything these days.

Even in the face of 50,000 well-wishers inside Lancashire County Cricket Ground the singer was polite and apologetic when, for five minutes during the first of two sell-out shows, the sound went dead but for the distant whisper of on-stage monitors.

Not that the band knew much about it until they had finished playing a song.

"Ever so sorry about that," offered Alex, eventually re-amplified at 9.15 on Saturday night. "I was standing here talking to you about Batman and feeling like a reet berk.

"Let's put that behind us."

In some ways it was typical of a band who seem to enjoy flying in the face of formula, opting to play an inadequate cricket ground venue instead of their beloved Wednesday ground or Wembley.

They even played most of their big hitters - Fluorescent Adolescent, Brianstorm and Dancefloor - in the opening 15 minutes instead of letting the anticipation build.

But even with thousands queuing at least an hour for a pint, the band still managed to win over a cocky city that has spawned Oasis and The Stone Roses, and likes to remind us of the fact.

The Monkeys probably wouldn't admit to trying to prove a white rose point across the Pennines. But then they didn't really need to what with the top tiers of the pavilion, crammed with friends and family chanting "Yorkshire, Yorkshire" for them.

Something wicket this way comes? You bet.