Arctic Monkeys O2 29th October 2011

How loud is the sound at the O2? Man, it's ridiculous! Everything sounds like you standing right next to the speakers and I was in the seats, at least 3 or 4 football pitches from the stage. They started off with "Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair". It's a wonderful track in my opinion. I love the intense, driving guitars once the track kicks in. I always thought it was a wonderful bridge between the third and the fourth album; capturing the heavier guitar sound of album 3 with the more delicately crooned moments of album 4. And when you hear it live it is a even better!

They really motor through the songs! Even the tempo of the songs is faster live. For a large portion of the gig I couldn't take my eyes away from Matt Helders. I read he took up boxing to help him build up his physical strength for the live performances. And when you watch the man you can see why. He drums with such a wonderful mixture of dexterity and intensity. And though it attracted a lot of criticism when it was released, I love the retro feel of "Brick By Brick". I think it received such criticism as it was the first Monkeys song not to be lyric-intensive. It was a departure, but an interesting one in my opinion. Just like Humbug and Suck It And See.

One undeniable fact is that Arctic Monkeys singles and albums aren't selling as well as they used to (Like another of my favourite groups, Basement Jaxx, but that's another blog story). And why is that? Some people want them to remain the lads from Sheffield singing songs about chip shops and dodgy taxis. But they aren't anymore. And Alex Turner no longer has to sing like he is rapping. I read he used to do that as when they played in dodgy clubs it was easier to be heard that way. But as he showed on The Last Shadow Puppets album and subsequent Monkeys releases he has a wonderful gentlemanly croon, so why not show it off?

The first Monkeys album was a phenomenon. It was wonderful to see a band make it on the strength of their tunes and good old fashioned hard work. The story was they were a Myspace band, but as time has proved they are much more than that. The Arctic Monkeys are a timeless band. 20 years later they will still be filling out arenas. And I will still be there buying tickets the day they come out. And despite what Alex Turner says Arctic Monkeys is an awesome name.