Arctic Monkeys O2 29th October 2011

How loud is the sound at the O2? Man, it's ridiculous! Everything sounds like you standing right next to the speakers and I was in the seats, at least 3 or 4 football pitches from the stage. They started off with "Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair". It's a wonderful track in my opinion. I love the intense, driving guitars once the track kicks in. I always thought it was a wonderful bridge between the third and the fourth album; capturing the heavier guitar sound of album 3 with the more delicately crooned moments of album 4. And when you hear it live it is a even better!

They really motor through the songs! Even the tempo of the songs is faster live. For a large portion of the gig I couldn't take my eyes away from Matt Helders. I read he took up boxing to help him build up his physical strength for the live performances. And when you watch the man you can see why. He drums with such a wonderful mixture of dexterity and intensity. And though it attracted a lot of criticism when it was released, I love the retro feel of "Brick By Brick". I think it received such criticism as it was the first Monkeys song not to be lyric-intensive. It was a departure, but an interesting one in my opinion. Just like Humbug and Suck It And See.

One undeniable fact is that Arctic Monkeys singles and albums aren't selling as well as they used to (Like another of my favourite groups, Basement Jaxx, but that's another blog story). And why is that? Some people want them to remain the lads from Sheffield singing songs about chip shops and dodgy taxis. But they aren't anymore. And Alex Turner no longer has to sing like he is rapping. I read he used to do that as when they played in dodgy clubs it was easier to be heard that way. But as he showed on The Last Shadow Puppets album and subsequent Monkeys releases he has a wonderful gentlemanly croon, so why not show it off?

The first Monkeys album was a phenomenon. It was wonderful to see a band make it on the strength of their tunes and good old fashioned hard work. The story was they were a Myspace band, but as time has proved they are much more than that. The Arctic Monkeys are a timeless band. 20 years later they will still be filling out arenas. And I will still be there buying tickets the day they come out. And despite what Alex Turner says Arctic Monkeys is an awesome name.

New Kele Track - What Did I Do Wrong

I am a huge Bloc Party fan. For me one of the most pivotal moments in my musical experience was the moment I saw them performing "Helicopter" on the Jools Holland show in 2004. There was a striking visual quality to Kele from the moment I saw him. Not to be racist, but it was the fact here was a black guy fronting a British rock band, who were playing "music girls could dance to", but there was a mysticism to there lyrics. I mean I still haven't figured out exactly what Helicopter is about.

Therefore the rumours about Bloc Party splitting and auditioning new singers worries me. I mean in my opinion there is nothing about the other 3 that stands out. Sometimes I think the backing vocals are painfully weak in live shows. But I have loved Kele's solo output.

I love "What Did I Do Wrong". To list the track as Kele feat Lucy Taylor is a bit wrong. I mean his part only comes in during the chorus! But hey, maybe he produced it. There are elements of Magnetic Man's track "Perfect Stranger" to me, in particular the intro keyboard riff. And the fact that the track is essentially a dubstep track. Lucy Taylor's vocals have a wonderful vulnerability to them; I imagine her as the jilted partner who believed the relationship was progressing in a beautiful fashion, until her partner suddenly drops a bombshell upon her. I love the dubstep wobble breakdown middle 8th. It keeps the track "hard" and is a perfect way to set-up Lucy's vulnerable vocals again.

All in all I can't stop listening to the track. Will it be a big hit? Hmm, well it should make top 30 at least. But there is less excitement around the Bloc Party/Kele brand nowadays I think. But it's a tune I will be dropping in a set most assuredly