Review of Arctic Monkeys at Reading festival 2014

Upon entrance of the reading festival arena on Saturday the 23rd August 2014, one thing is glaringly obvious; this is a day dominated by one band and one band only.
Confronted by a sea of t-shirts screaming phrases such as “why’d you only call me when you’re high?” and the eponymous “Arctic Monkeys”, the boys have worked up one hell of a vibe an entire twelve hours before they’re even due to grace the stage. In the half hour or so leading up to their set, I spotted more than ten members of the crowd having to be pulled over the barrier and carted off by security, worryingly limp limbed and rolling eyed. There’s a lot to be said about a band that can generate this level of buzz and excitement, it’s verging on out of control but demonstrative of the impact and influence Arctic Monkeys have on their fans.

As the set kicked off with the discernible, thumping beat of Do I Wanna Know there was no need for any grand entrance to work the crowd up, the atmosphere was already way past electric and surging towards an inferno in the crowds impatience for their headliners.

One thing that is abundantly clear is front man Alex Turner’s evolution from awkward, mumbling lead singer to suave and searing show man, expertly addressing and guiding the crowd with no more than a swing of the hips and languid flick of his arms. Gone are his days of urging his audience “don’t believe the hype” and horsing around in his music video in a post box coloured turtle neck, singing into a dicta phone; Turner has morphed into a leather clad, foul mouthed rock n roll star and his fans are loving every aspect of it.

The show being a sizzling salute farewell to the touring of the monkeys latest album AM, the set list was a clear reflection of that, including smooth, anti love song No 1 party anthem, slick lyric Arabella and ending with heavenly heart warmer I wanna be yours.

Nostalgic older tunes such first single I bet you look good on the dance floor and When the sun goes down were ravaged by the crowd, but Arctic Monkeys flourished most with rock n roll tracks My propeller and Crying Lightning from heavy third album Humbug.

There’s a reason that Arctic Monkeys have become such phenomenon’s and it’s largely down to their explosive live performances, as opposed to Turner’s slick quiff and sex appeal. This is a band that put’s on an almighty show, with the crowd quite literally eating out of the palm of their hands. At the end of the set a ten minute long chant of “we want more” eventually coerced the monkeys back on stage to perform an impromptu three song encore. Jamie Cook on lead guitar and Nick O’malley on bass and backing vocals flank Turner with their own testosterone fuelled, assured style with Matt Helders bringing up the rear with furious drumming and occasional soft backing vocals-although for half the show there was so much smoke surrounding Helders that he could barely be deciphered. Although he more than made up for this by ending the show by flinging his drum sticks into the crowd to most likely be fought over in the style of vultures for this most coveted of souvenirs.

With so much anticipation and expectation for this slot, Arctic Monkeys didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Everyone got precisely what they paid for; a send off to the AM tour worthy of the globally successful, number one album. The boys set Reading festival off with not so much a bang as a meteoric explosion and set the bar very high for future headliners…

Review of Jake Bugg’s main stage performance at Reading festival 2014

 

Performing on the main stage at Reading and Leeds festival is no mean feat for any artist, much less for one at the tender age of twenty but Jake Bugg managed it with more than a little touch of his trademark stoic nonchalance.

In the unenviable position of the last act before the evenings feverishly popular headliners Arctic Monkeys, Bugg churned out a solid, impressive set littered with tunes from both albums including debut singles Two Fingers and Lightning Bolt. If he felt any inkling of pressure preceding such blatant crowd favourites, Bugg didn’t betray a flicker of this in his mounting stage presence.

Highlights of the show were melancholy melodied heartbreaker hit Broken, in which the crowd created a chant of “smile, smile, smile” to the solemn faced star, who sheepishly interrupted his song in response with an endearingly flustered chuckle.

Strongest in the acoustic tracks such Seen it all, Me and You and Trouble Town, Bugg manages to make you feel like you’re sitting in front of a stage in a Texan bar with a warming tumbler of whiskey laced between your fingers. His country twang and soaring notes are in direct contrast to his rumbling northern speaking voice, making it all the more invaluable when he opens his mouth to sing.

Vocally Bugg is strong, adhering few bum notes and presenting no negative differences to listening to one of his records, an accolade that’s few and far between in most musicians these days. Admittedly he needs to work on his between song patter and more interaction with his audience, but this will surely come with age and progression as a musician.

For a musician who has self proclaimed a dislike for playing festivals, Bugg certainly appears at home on the main stage and possesses the instinctive ability to work a crowd through his music alone without having to verbally encourage his audience to “put their hands together” or “make some noise” for his songs.

Council estate anthems Messed up Kids and Slumville Sunrise were particularly well received, a refreshing dose of reality amongst the hedonistic rock n roll lifestyle that seems so flagrant among previous acts on the stage Bugg occupied.

The hair raising, ethereal notes and stomping chorus beat of Simple Pleasures as the sun had set into atmospheric dark was also a personal favourite moment.

After an impressive hour long sunset slot, Bugg more than proved himself to be headliner worthy in a few years time. The horizon is clearly golden for Jake Bugg, who has managed to remain both humble and honest on his whirlwind journey from playing the festival republic stage in 2012 before his first album had even been released, to performing on the main stage just two years later with two phenomenally successful albums under his belt…