The Arctic Monkeys, Vaccines @ Ogden Theatre

Live Music Review by Jennifer Knight
 - May 30, 2011 - Denver, CO

A sixty-mile quest to catch a band with moxie enough to name their new studio album “Suck It and See” was well worth the effort.  As romantic as the fourth title from the Arctic Monkeys and Domino Records seems, it’s actually meant to be quite harmless.  Suck it and see is an informal British expression asking you to try something you have not done before to discover what it’s like. 

The line outside Denver's Ogden Theatre seemed to carry its own heartbeat in tune while each part of the caterpillar waited patiently to enter the sold-out show.  All the pretty visitors were anxiously awaiting a formal introduction to Alex Turner, Matt Helders, Nick O’Malley and Jamie Cook who came all the way from Sheffield via Internet fame to meet us. 

One and a half hours, two trips outside and three plastic cups of rum later, “Good evening Denver, sorry for the wait,” was introduction enough by our [incredibly late] opener, the Vaccines.
While I wasn’t particularly impressed, the opening band did serve its purpose.  They appeared to be a decent act but provided only a mildly charming performance.
A brief pause between bands takes us to lights-out and “American Woman” begins to boom against the surrounding structure.  The crowd bursts into riotous applause and magical merriment as the handsome British four-piece take to the stage with a bang.  A simply stated, “Yes” by young Alex starts us on our way. 
Enter the palpitation of all your sorts and senses.  Out of the moment and into the pocket we go, as the Arctic Monkeys finally take flight with synergy.  Short bursts of red and white, sound and spectacle squarely rocket the crowd to their breaking point after only four numbers.  Then we move darker into the night with “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” as the thirsty crowd gently slides completely off their collective cracker.  It was, however, fairly difficult to settle into any one impression as the sound and feel varied greatly from song to song.
After a fantastic rise and fall of cherry flavoured intensity, they dug into our hearts once again with a one-two-three kick encore that left the audience needing more.
Set List:

1)     Library Pictures (Suck It and See 2011)

2)     Brianstorm (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

3)     This House Is A Circus (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

4)     Still Take You Home (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2006)

5)     Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair (Suck It and See 2011)

6)     Pretty Visitors (Humbug 2009)

7)     Teddy Picker (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

8)     Crying Lightning (Humbug 2009)

9)     Brick by Brick (Suck It and See 2011)

10) Cornerstone (Humbug 2009)

11) I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2006)

12) Potion Approaching (Humbug 2009)

13 All My Own Stunts (Suck It and See 2011)

14) If You Were There, Beware (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

15)  Do Me A Favour (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

16) When The Sun Goes Down (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2006)

Encore:

1 She’s Thunderstorms (Suck It and See 2011)

2)The View From The Afternoon (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2006)

3)Fluorescent Adolescent (Favourite Worse Nightmare 2007)

Now I say bully and poppycock to the Brits who think the Arctic Monkeys have Americanized themselves.  Maybe it’s the other way around.  Tomato, Tomato.  Every great songwriter finds his voice and Alex Turner’s is certainly getting deeper and more defined with each new batch of lyrics.
The Arctic Monkeys taunted the mostly American crowd with only five songs off their newest album, which is scheduled for release in the United States on the 5^th of June.  If winning over a new age of mod-punk indie rockers in America was their goal with this tour, our boys should consider it a full-on success.
Suffice it to say, most newcomers ignored the Vaccines and ended up with a healthy case of Arctic Monkey Fever.  In all, there are certainly worse ways one can spend a hard-earned $50.00 on Colfax.

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