Arctic Monkeys performed at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on Sept. 30 for the second of three sold-out nights in the city. The highly anticipated “The Car” tour finally made its rounds towards Los Angeles, as cars flooded the arena’s parking lot hours before the event began.
The Arctic Monkeys merchandise booth and quotes posted on pillars had fans lined up for photo ops and purchases until their opening act, Fontaines DC, a band from Dublin, Ireland, took the stage. Their sound and style are similar to the Arctic Monkeys, considering they also play alternative punk and indie rock. Their act lasted until 8:45 p.m., with the Arctic Monkeys finally arriving on the stage at 9:10 p.m.
The anticipation ate at the crowd as the figures of each band member appeared through the darkness.
Arctic Monkeys started the concert with “Sculptures of Anything Goes.” The music blared out in the stadium with just the beat and then the guitars and at that moment, the crowd knew that Alex Turner and his bandmates Matt Helders, Jamie Cook and Nick O’Malley were about to serenade them.
The band transitioned between their songs smoothly and turned the lights down low while playing instrumentals of the next song, leaving the fans guessing what would come.
Arctic Monkeys played a few of the songs from their newest album, “The Car,” such as the opening song “Bodypaint” as well as “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball.” Along with these songs, the band played a mixture of their most beloved songs from multiple of their older albums.
As the band performed each song, the audience’s excitement continued to escalate. Songs like “Snap Out of It” from the album “AM,” “Crying Lightning” from “Humbug” and a personal favorite, “Arabella,” which is also from “AM,” along with “Knee Socks,” were accompanied by vibrant stage lighting that filled the room with color. This lighting set the tone for the performance, allowing the audience to witness Turner and the band in larger-than-life proportions on the big screens. The guitar solos for “Crying Lighting” and “Brianstorm” were even more surreal to hear in person.
One of the most significant moments of the show was when they played “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” and toward the end of the song dropped an actual mirrorball that spun and lit up the crowd with lights. The disco ball stayed down for the following few songs.
The following tracks were “505” from the album “Favorite Worst Nightmare” and “Do I Wanna Know” from their album “AM,” two of their most popular songs everyone recognizes from the first note.
While everyone in the Forum was singing along, Turner, true to his style, decided to put his unique spin on it, causing the crowd to temporarily lose their sense of harmony. This humbling experience reminded us that, like always, he will interpret the songs in his own way, yet our affection for him remains unwavering. After all, he is the lead singer, and that’s precisely what makes him special.
The show was about to end as Turner told the fans how much he loved them and thanked them for the night. The lights went off and the band walked off stage. Cheers from every direction began filling the stadium. Fans, left in awe of the soulful indie rock band, cheered, screamed and cried for five minutes until the encore finally began.
Alex Turner said “This one goes out to Amelia,” and blared the iconic intro of “I Wanna Be Yours,” which felt like one of those slow-motion grand entrances only seen in movies. As the introduction to the next song “I Bet You Look Good on The Dancefloor,” a beloved track from their earlier album “Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not,” Turner announced the song with the phrase “Lock it in.” Instantly, vibrant lights burst forth, perfectly complementing the electrifying punk energy of the song.
They ended the night on a high note with “R U Mine,” also from “AM.” The upbeat song didn’t take away from one of the saddest parts of the evening: saying goodnight to the Arctic Monkeys. The crowd cheered and waved them off the stage one by one.
The band left their fans feeling joyful and satisfied as they left the Kia Forum. They truly put on a show and cause the following days after seeing them to feel different, a post-concert nostalgia. In the car, you’ll be blasting the music and increasing the bass to get that feeling of seeing them live again. Trust me
