Arctic Monkeys - Ashton Gate, 29th May 2023

Barring TV appearances in promotion for seventh album The Car, UK audiences haven’t been able to see Arctic Monkeys in action since Reading & Leeds Festival last August.

In the nine months since they’ve been touring the rest of the world, stopping in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America while the home fanbase twiddle their thumbs, in readiness for a series of huge gigs and the small matter of a Glastonbury headline slot in June.

Regardless of the venue, with so many shows under their belt, they should be at their peak for their native audience. Unsurprisingly, they are.

Although touring and playing live has always been one of their many strengths, the foursome transitioned from indie heavyweights to a muscular, festival-slaying rock band during the AM tour of 2013/14.

Their longest tour ever, it solidified the ever-evolving band’s place at music’s top table and, despite the musical experimentation since that album, taught them useful lessons which they’ve consolidated since. Indeed, it’s ironic that after their two least commercially viable albums, Turner and co are at playing their biggest-ever UK shows, but such is their power as a live force.

https://www.live4ever.uk.com/2023/05/review-arctic-monkeys-ashton-gate/