Arctic Monkeys 07/12/2009 Mr. Smalls Theater - Pittsburgh, PA Live review
On December 7, 2009, I made the trek to Mr. Smalls Theater, in Millvale, PA just outside of Pittsburgh. The venue is fairly cramped, with probably around a 750 person capacity, and is actually an old Church. Normally these sort of venues have great sound, and Mr. Smalls Theater might have that one day, but the sound was not the best that night. The crowd was was made up mostly of high school students and under thirty year olds. While in the queue outside a lot of the younger crowd were discussing the band, they didn't even know the albums or band members. While some may be annoyed by that, it seems the band is making new fans with these small US tours. The downside to this is the crowd was incredibly rude and probably the roughest I have ever seen. People were screaming for "Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys", hurting people, and saying some pretty rude things. It seems America has its own lad rock crowd! All that aside, the show was great, and the band played as good as ever.The set list was great, but I was disappointed they did not play Dangerous Animals and Catapult. They sound checked Catapult for about an hour, constantly chipping away at it and working extensively on the chorus, but it obviously was not ready yet. It was great hearing it, even outside of the venue freezing. Alex was a lot more talkative than I remember him in 2006, and the band all seemed to be in good spirits. The sound was the major drawback during the concert, with the vocals being quiet, and the bass loud. Hopefully Mr. Smalls Theater will eventually learn how to mix live concerts, but the audio was still 75% clear and Arctic Monkeys gave a great performance.
The set list was comprised mostly of Humbug material and older songs which best show cased the bands more elusive and enigmatic personality. Songs such as This House Is a Circus, Still Take You Home, and If You Were There, Beware formed links between the Humbug songs, heightening the dark tense presence of their music. Of course, no Arctic Monkey's concert these days is without their "big hits". Perhaps in a condesending way Alex announced "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" as "for the ladies" in a mock-jock tone. Following that look back at juvenility, the band eased its way into Potion Approaching. At once one of their most sensual at sexual songs, with it lyrics "Holding a token, swollen in size. Potion Approaching, shield your eyes." From there Arctic Monkeys had clearly worked the crowd in a frenzy, and it didn't let up until well after the show had ended.
Perhaps knowing this would happen, the band crafted their set list to include a shift from the faster material into the softer material, and back to their most dramatic songs. Following the end of The View From The Afternoon, perhaps the best song from their debut, the band attempted to ease the tension with recent single Cornerstone. Although Arctic Monkeys continued with some of their most poignant songs, Fluorescent Adolescent and Do Me A Favour, the crowd never slowed down. Although they would be back for an encore, the most exciting moment of night came with The Jeweller's Hands. Slowly working up to a climax of intrapersonal tension, guitars, and some of Matt Helder's most propulsive drumming, the song perfectly encapsulated the concert. After a brief reprieve, Arctic Monkeys returned to the stage to play two final songs, continuing the template set by The Jeweller's Hands, before finally leaving the crowd for a well earned rest. The concert goers however, crammed into the tight walls of Mr. Smalls Theater continued to feed of the shows energy and hung around for awhile. Once outside, I proceeded to head home, whereas many others waited for the band and discuss the concert.
Set list:
Dance Little Liar
Brianstorm
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Potion Approaching
Pretty Visitors
If You Were There, Beware
Red Right Hand
My Propeller
Crying Lightning
The View From The Afternoon
Cornerstone
Fluorescent Adolescent
Do Me A Favour
The Jeweller's Hands
Encore:
Secret Door
505
