Arctic Monkeys review, Royal Albert Hall, London: Alex Turner and co put on a show for the ages

The show added decades on to their already long-gestating career

(Aaron Parsons)

★★★★★

“Don’t believe the ‘ype,” drawls Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner in front of six-thousand ballot-winning revellers at the Royal Albert Hall before launching into a rollicking version of debut single “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.” The comment - a throwback to one of the Sheffield quartet’s earliest performances - came with added poignancy when considering all they’ve achieved in 12 short years: six number one envelope-pushing albums, two Glastonbury headline sets (with a third surely on the way) and a feverish fanbase in whose eyes they can do no wrong.

Last night added decades to their already long-gestating career. They kicked things off with “Four Out Of Five,” the signature track from latest record Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, whose airtight chorus, earworm hook and psychedelic finale previewed the vibrant show to come. Fortunate fans sang every word in unison.

Stating intent, Turner proceeded to deal out a trio of mercurial tracks which, when placed side by side, pumped blood into the walls of the historical London building - “Brianstorm,” “Crying Lightning” and AM opener “Do I Wanna Know?” - the former in particular sending a series of whirl-pooling mosh pits rippling through the sea of fans.

In fact, no chair in the Albert Hall was put to use until the dreamy hues of “One Point Perspective” and “Cornerstone” rang out - a necessary breather - ahead of a tireless second act consisting of “Arabella,” its one-two guitar punch and lyrics of silhouette-causing sunsets rendering arms weightless and a stirring rendition of Humbug track “Pretty Visitors” which befittingly cut its ‘underrated’ status loose once and for all.

Turner’s crowd interaction may have been kept to a minimum, but his wry insouciance was dispelled whenever he took stock of where he was stood. This was a special show and the four-piece, usually reticent to treat fans to surprises, were aware of it, delivering five words which cast the War Child-supported concert in the annals of Arctic Monkeys lore: "Last night, these two bouncers...". Since 2006, the group has amassed a staggering back catalogue to handpick from and the evening’s winning track was “From the Ritz to the Rubble,” its first live rendition since 2011 transforming even the more casual fans into jumping messes.

The furore demanding their return to the stage was rapturously heart-racing. Reappearing, Turner sat behind a piano before crooning out lengthy Tranquility Base opener “Star Treatment” which managed to keep the crowd’s energy levels high despite the drop in pace. He wasn’t planning to let it go unrewarded. Showmanship solidified, the Monkeys time travelled back to the beginning with “The View from the Afternoon” before a rowdy rendition of frantic crowd-pleaser “R U Mine” which they resuscitated not once, but twice before disappearing into the night as quickly as they’d arrived.

It was clear everyone assembled had just been in the presence of one of music's greatest fixtures.