CLANTIQUES
ARCTIC MONKEYS WHATEVER PEOPLE ALBUM LAUNCH GIG TICKET LEADMILL SHEFFIELD 22/01/06
Yes, I was there. My original ticket for the Arctic Monkeys first album ('Whatever People...') launch party/gig, in Sheffield's infamous Leadmill. The gig took place the night before the official release of the album, but HMV (14-18 High Street), stayed open late and we all got our copies 8 hours earlier than everyone else. The BBC called this the "gig of the century", and it was.
Supported by Milburn, Harrisons and Reverand and the Makers.
Set List:
By Lucy Archbould
The day before the release of their record breaking debut album the Monkeys lined up with some of the other leading names from the local scene for a sell-out gig at one of Sheffield's favourite venues...
"Anticipation, has a habit to set you up for disappointment in evening entertainment" is the opening line of 'Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I'm Not', the debut album from Sheffield Indie sweethearts Arctic Monkeys.
Their gig at the Leadmill is possibly the most widely anticipated affair since these Yorkshire whipper-snappers stormed the British and European music scene. But it certainly didn't disappoint. Tickets for the gig were like gold dust. Better, in fact. After all, can gold dust epitomise gritty teenage life in Sheffield, sex city? No, but Arctic Monkeys can.
Supporting were Harrisons, Milburn and, dare I say it, the 'Next big Thing'; Reverend and the Makers. Firstly Harrisons, thwarting rumours of any hard feelings between themselves and the Arctic boys. Harrisons are poppy with gravelly vocals and catchy riffs, with a sing-along appeal that is hard to resist.
They almost flirted with the crowd, teasing them with opening lines of long-lost songs, only to break into brand-new material. The performance of their last single 'Wishing Well' made the venue crackle, and I almost wished that they would play more of their Old-School favourites. But their new songs kept me riveted, and left me with a craving for more of their cheeky musings.
The second support came in the form of Milburn; four ordinary Sheffield lads who met and formed a band, carving youth-culture ballads into quirky riffs and drum beats. Sound familiar? My first impression of Milburn was that they were from the same vein of flat-caps-n-greyhounds melodies as Arctic Monkeys.
But after listening more closely, it is apparent that many of their songs have darker undertones; 'Send In The Boys' describes a real chain of events which led to a home carer being held in her patient's cellar at knifepoint.
Singer Joe Carnall has an enticing cockiness, and judging by the set they played on Sunday, rightly so. The crowd reaction was off the scale with crowdsurfing starting early at the very beginning of Milburn's set.
Next up was the relatively unknown Reverend and the Makers. I'd heard rave reviews about this band, and was expecting good things, the frontman being Jon of 1984 and the ultimate Sheffield band, Judan Suki. He twitched and jerked his way mercilessly through the set, each song as funky and distinctive as the next.
Guest vocalists frequented the stage throughout the performance, giving each track a definitive sound, and I was startled by the diversity of the new material. This band is definitely one to watch out for.
So far so good. The line-up – which had been kept secret until the night – read like a who's who of the Sheffield scene saga. There was a definite community feel in the venue that night, with most bands having known each other since the days when Sheffield was best known for its steel industry rather than its chart success. Until Arctic Monkeys invaded the media, that is...
A roar of appreciation went up as the Monkey's now-famous roadie Big Nige took to the stage, teasing the audience with glimpses of Alex Turner's legendary 'Arctic White' guitar. The set list was stuck on the back wall – previous ones were pilfered from under the frontmans nose before they had even begun to play.
Finally, Arctic Monkeys casually sauntered onto the stage with an air of brash certainty, with their now signature hip-hop intro. Tonight the tune of choice was Warren G – Regulate. Before the noise of the crowd could even reach their ears, they had launched into a riotous performance of their second number one, 'Sun Goes Down' – announced just hours earlier to the approval of their massive fanbase.
The sea of followers transformed into a bouncing, bellowing mass of lurching bodies and raised hands. After just this first song, the crowd initiated a chant for 'Love Machine' – the Girls Aloud hit performed by the boys last week on the Radio One Live Lounge.
Alex shrugged off requests with an effortlessly breezy 'not a chance', demonstrating his aptitude for communicating with fans en masse, despite his seemingly shy, boyish exterior.
They continued to thunder through favourites such as 'Dancing Shoes', 'Fake Tales Of San Francisco', and 'Bet That You Look Good on The Dancefloor', as well as new tracks such as 'Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...' and 'A View From The Afternoon'.
The highlight for many came with the incredible finale of 'Certain Romance', a song which, no matter how many times it is played, still manages to capture the mood in any venue perfectly.
This was easily one of the gigs of the century, and almost makes me think I should stop trying to better it. Almost...
POSTAGE COSTS:
UK: £3.50
INTERNATIONAL SIGNED AND TRACKED: £11.50
REST OF THE WORLD - INTERNATIONAL SIGNED AND TRACKED: £15.50