As darkness descended on the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, New York got a taste of Britain's most talked-about band. Led by frontman Alex Turner, the Arctic Monkeys began playing an electrifying 90-minute set to the delight of the at-capacity crowd of 5,000 concertgoers this past September 5. Performing a set featuring a balance of songs from their two critically acclaimed albums, the band was remarkably tight. The sound was powerful. The energy was electrifying.
Accompanied by flashing lights and mist, the scene felt almost magical. The Monkeys opened furiously with the hits "Brianstorm" and "Dancing Shoes." The band's energy was infectious. The crowd cannot help but be swept into dancing and singing. Even Turner seemed surprised by the reaction, responding after each song with a gleeful "You're all delightful, cheers!" But this reception should come as no surprise to these Sheffield, England natives. After all, they're quickly becoming one of the world's most popular bands.
The Arctic Monkeys are a long way from attaining the popularity of past UK giants, like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Yet, there are some distinct and noteworthy similarities. Like the Beatles with Please Please Me, the Monkeys took the world by storm with their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Even in the age of Internet downloads, the album has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Their lyrics often discern social struggles and working conditions in England - their way of tackling issues was no doubt influenced by that other great London band, The Clash. As word spread, fans flocked to shows. Popularity quickly turned into frenzy - dare I say, mania? Media outlets deemed their debut album one of the greatest in recent music history, and the band the true successors of the Beatles.
Turner, who is both the band's frontman and lead guitarist, received his first guitar as a Christmas present at the age of 15. He taught himself how to play and eventually formed the band with Jaime Cook soon afterwards.
With Matt Helders on drums, they worked their way up in the British alternative scene by playing local clubs and handing out demos to anyone willing to listen. They utilized the Internet to share their songs throughout the world. As word spread around England of the young, barely 19-year-old musicians, who offered a musical blend that mixed styles from the likes of the Libertines, Oasis and the Strokes, record companies soon came calling.
Yet Turner and company made a refreshing decision. In an era in which record companies mold the sounds of young, up-and-coming bands in hopes of striking the right chord with certain target audiences, the Arctic Monkeys refused the major deal and the millions in guaranteed money that would have come with it. They signed with the independent label Domino. Turner did not want to pander to the media, nor did he want record companies deciding the band's path. Whatever People Say I Am was released in 2006. Within six months, the band began writing their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare. Turner didn't deny the band was under pressure to back up the success of their debut album. He talked about handling the pressure in an interview with the magazine Uncut: "We tried not to dwell on that - I was more excited about having new songs." It's clear that Turner wanted to accomplish something special. "In 20 years, I'm quite into the idea of people saying, 'Do you remember the Arctic Monkeys?'" he went on to say.
In April 2007, Favourite Worst Nightmare was released. The album is different from its predecessor, almost as if the Monkeys had something to prove. Following in the footsteps of the Beatles, Turner and the band matured in both their sound and lyrics. The album is darker, heavier and more personal. Life stories are conveyed and Turner's personal desires are revealed. The album was met with critical acclaim and certainly seemed to back up all expectations. It was a remarkable feat from four guys, none of whom are over the age of 21.
To date, the Arctic Monkeys have sold more than four million albums. Their fans even include British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. They headlined the Glastonbury Festival and have had their songs covered by Tom Jones.
Yet the modest Turner has not let any of the hoopla get to his head. When they ended their song "When The Sun Goes Down" and their set in Central Park, Turner asked the crowd if they'll continue their dancing "until the sun comes up." When a loud yell of affirmation followed, Turner simply laughed and said, "Well, that's an awfully silly thing to do." The powerful drum beats and furious sound of the guitars quickly overcame the cheers as the Arctic Monkeys finished the day as they customarily do - playing "A Certain Romance." There seemed to be a sense among the crowd that something spectacular was being witnessed. And yet there is so much more for these 21-year-olds to accomplish.
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