Rock's Not Dead

Standing outside of Hammerstein Ballroom at 10 30pm on a muggy spring night in NYC watching about a dozen tanked brits chant football cheers.

  Arctic Monkeys At Hammerstein 
  Originally uploaded by fredwilson.

That's what the Arctic Monkeys fan base is all about. Singing out loud at the top of their lungs, they know every word, and these are their boys.

And mine too. The Arctic Monkeys are high octane rock and roll. Somewhere between The Kinks, The Clash, and The Stooges.  But with something all their very own. That thumping bass line and the twin guitars driving every song.

The Gotham Gal says their songs sound the same to her. I suppose, but not if you've listened a hundred times to each of their songs in the past year.

Rocks' not dead. It's alive and well in Sheffield England in NYC tonight. And I for one am glad to have witnessed it (and the drunk lads too).

Comments

[carl rahn griffith]

glad you enjoyed it, fred - but i haven't forgiven you for catching them live ahead of me!

as for the 'squiffy' brits in the crowd outside - well, that's just like hillsborough on match day - good lads!

we've got glen tillbrook (formerly of 'squeeze' - also a fine example of brit-pop genre rock from the 80s) on friday at the splendid picturedome venue.

we saw 'the fall' there a few weeks ago - it's a wonderfully unique type of venue.

http://www.picturedrome.net/home.htm

[Phil]

sure they rock but i tell ya its some of their jangly ballads which capture the underlying- what makes such a cool band... that tune mardy bum for ex so wonderfully composed melodically, rhythmically, lyrically... i amazed by it... but pardon for being so "argumentative" ;-) yeah.. the davies bros must be v proud of these boys...

[Justin Ward]

I have that issue also about the fact that all of their songs sound alike -- that was my first impression of the band, too. Once I dug in a bit, especially on the new album, the real gems stand out. And the real *ability* of these youngins is soooooooo obvious after a couple listens, the arrangements are more complex than other bands their age, etc. These guys are definitely the real deal.

[Kristian Hansen]

Speaking of which, I liked your NY Magazine spread on music this week. I am sure that Tobey Maguire will regret his Spider-Man mantra at some point.

[Tony Alva]

I remain unconvinced... Their tunes just don't leave lasting impressions, although I admire their zeal. You may have to drag me to one of these shows to convince me otherwise.

Rock is definately dead, long live rock!

[mark slater]

its all in the lyrics. I think some of the perocialisms (word?) may be lost on some of the american audience - they is a tremendous amount of dark saracastic humor in what they sing about. You see this cultural stereotype played out all across northern England - i'll be in athens for a football match next week with the team i've supported since a boy (liverpool) and i'll guarantee there will be literally 1000's of humorous banners representing this enigmatic, sarcastic, highly humorous and very individual expression. I'll take pics and try and show you what i mean!

We'll do it anyway cuz we love a bit of trouble!

[Party 4 a Cause]

I'm totally going to see them at Austin City Limits this september. I'm way excited!

[mark slater]

Just watched that again as i was trying to see what camera you use (in the market for a new one) and i think they are singing about Jody Morris - A former Chelsea player who had a bunch of trouble with the police. He may have been at the show. I know - back to work ;)

[carl rahn griffith]

mark - interetsing - but i think we're long overdue a song from them in tribute to sheffield wednesday - yes, i know, footie songs are usually very naff but i am sure the lads could pull it off.

simek, brunt, whelan, laws, burton, bullen, folly, et al ... so much scope for rhyming couplets and a cheeky little ditty, surely!?

;-)