Some of you missed it, ya just about missed it.  In their first show of 2013 following a long tour break, the Arctic Monkeys simply aced Ventura last night.  The Sheffield band delivered a swaggering show before a sold-out, manic crowd at the Majestic Ventura Theater.  From song one, Alex Turner and the boys jammed through a scintillating 21-song set that featured many fan favorites (though, sadly, minus Riot Van).  We had tried repeatedly to see them live since becoming enamored by them in 2006, but had never been able to make it work.  Until last night.  It was well worth the wait.

It has been a long, long time since we’ve seen a crowd this inflamed and enraptured by a band (not since, perhaps, Radiohead at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2001, The National at the Wiltern in 2007 or The Jam at Royce Hall in 1979).  It was one of those epic, know-every-word-to-every-song crowds, with moshing, singalongs and serious fervor throughout the band’s rocking set.  Surprisingly, their audience was a societal cross-section, not just your average indie crowd, which added to the celebratory atmosphere.  Arctic Monkeys have struck a deep chord with their audience, and it is a sight and sound to behold.  Get ye to Glastonbury this summer for their headlining slot there.

AM kicked off their brazen show with a brand new song entitled Do I Wanna Know? from their impending studio album (their fifth) that was evidently recorded in Joshua Tree.  The dark rocker would not be out of place on any of their recent albums that have, since their first album, gradually included more grunge/metal influences (see Soundgarden). You can watch the video of the new song below along with another highlight, Crying Lightning.  The band played with cohesion and chops in Ventura, and never skipped a beat while Turner danced, disrobed, combed and dazzled with his vocals throughout the set.  Other song highlights were Dancing Shoes (first time performed since 2009), Fake Tales of San Francisco (first time live since 2007), I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Cornerstone, Fluorescent Adolescent and 505.

Following the show’s end, the crowd moved out onto the street in continued celebration.  As we left, we looked up at an upstairs window of the old theater and saw Alex and the boys celebrating a job well done (see below).  We can’t wait to catch ’em again.

Check out the Ventura setlist at bottom.

Setlist:

Do I Wanna Know?
R U Mine?
Dancing Shoes
Brianstorm
Brick by Brick
Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
Evil Twin
Old Yellow Bricks
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
Crying Lightning
Pretty Visitors
Do Me a Favour
Cornerstone
(Semi-Acoustic)
She’s Thunderstorms
The View from the Afternoon
Fake Tales of San Francisco
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
That’s Where You’re Wrong

Encore:
Suck It and See
Fluorescent Adolescent
505

Photos by Lefort and Bill Cuttler