Arctic Monkeys took the Hard Rock stage obscured by a dense fog and lighting that cast the band in silhouette. The ambiance created a somber mood that lasted until the first crunching drum beat of the set-opening “Do I Wanna Know?”
There are two types of Arctic Monkeys fans — those who accept the band’s evolution from the punk rock energy of their debut to their current brand of melodic rock and those who wish every song had the intensity of “From the Ritz to the Rubble.” The latter fans will never appreciate the intricate craftsmanship of tunes like “One for the Road.” The former, however, were treated to a diverse set list showcasing everything the band does well.
Each of Arctic Monkeys’ five albums were well represented, with the greatest emphasis on the current album, AM. Frontman Alex Turner’s velvety croon carried slow songs like “Reckless Serenade.” Anyone who thinks the band has lost their edge, though, were proved wrong two songs into the performance, as they tore through a furious rendition of “Brianstorm,” guitarist Jamie Cook’s riffs as hot as the fire red lighting.
Whether flexing their muscles with the deep trudging “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” or shaking their hips to the upbeat shuffle of “Snap Out of It,” Arctic Monkeys gave a versatile tour of their catalog while making the case that they’re one of the most talented bands to come out of the last decade.
“I could tell you weren’t as into that as some of the others,” Turner said upon concluding “Knee Socks.” The crowd protested, but Turner insisted “it’s okay, it’s okay.” Cook then responded by playing the iconic opening riff to “Fluorescent Adolescent.” As the crowd erupted, a chorus of 3,000 vocalists sang every line to the song, making it clear that they were very much into that song.
Truth be told, the crowd was into every song, whether new (“Arabella”), old (“Dancing Shoes”), or obscure (“Evil Twin,” released only as a B-side). After closing out the regular set with the slow burning anthem “505,” Arctic Monkeys returned for a three-song encore. The acoustic ballad “Cornerstone” gave way to “One For the Road,” with Nick O’Malley’s bass groove making everyone look good on the dancefloor. “R U Mine” ended the show on an appropriate note. The song served as a summary of the Arctic Monkeys catalog as well as the Orlando performance: a perfect blend of bludgeoning riffs, youthful energy and smooth vocals.
Setlist: Do I Wanna Know?/ Brianstorm/ Dancing Shoes/ Evil Twin/ Snap Out of It/ Crying Lightning/ Don’t Sit Down ‘Case I’ve Moved Your Chair/ Fireside/ Reckless Serenade/ Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?/ Arabella/ Pretty Visitors/ I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor/ Suck It and See/ Knee Socks/ Fluorescent Adolescent/ 505/ Encore: Cornerstone/ One for the Road/ R U Mine?
