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Arctic Monkeys debut new songs in New Zealand

Arctic Monkeys, live in Wellington New Zealand, January 12
Pic: Jenna Good

Arctic Monkeys, live in Wellington New Zealand, January 12 Pic: Jenna Good

Band debut tracks at 'first gig in over a year'

Arctic Monkeys played four new songs in New Zealand last night (January 12) as they played their first gig in "over a year".

The Sheffield band played 'Dangerous Animals', 'Pretty Visitors', 'Go-Kart' - which frontman Alex Turner introduced as being called 'Would You Like Me To Build You A Go-Kart?' - and 'Crying Lightning' at Wellington Town Hall.

After opening with former B-side 'Da Frame 2R', Turner said: "Hello everyone, this is our first gig for about a year, so you might have to bear with us."

The Sheffield band have been recording with Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, and made the most of the pause in work on their third record to play the new songs.

Towards the end of the night, a cocktail-sipping Turner told the crowd he was playing a "new one with a Les Paul" before performing 'Go-Kart'.

Some of new material saw the band using a little toy piano and a slide guitar.

The set also included plenty of the band's favourites, plus a cover of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' 'Red Right Hand' in the encore.

Arctic Monkeys played:

'Da Frame 2R'
'This House Is A Circus'
'Still Take You Home'
'The View From The Afternoon'
'Dancing Shoes'
'Dangerous Animals'
'From The Ritz To The Rubble'
'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'
'Pretty Visitors'
'Brianstorm'
'When The Sun Goes Down'
'Leave Before The Lights Come On'
'Go-Kart'
'Crying Lightning'
'Fluorescent Adolescent'
'Do Me A Favour'
'Red Right Hand'
'If You Were There, Beware'


The band are now due to play the Big Day Out Festival in New Zealand and Australia before continuing work on their third album.

Were you at the gig? What did you think of the new songs? Post your opinion below.

Comments (15)

Add a comment

CatieRAVE 

Jan 14, 2009

Come to Leeds OKAY!!I am desperate to see these guys Live this year :D xo

Museician 

Jan 14, 2009

Hope there going back to the proper stuff like on the first album not that 70's inspired indie-pop psychedelic bullshit like on the second album.

conna02 

Jan 14, 2009

does this mean there will be a new album ?

nigestorm 

Jan 14, 2009

Great to hear the lads are back. Bring on the album!!!!

nads47 

Jan 14, 2009

It was a great gig, with some fun banter between the lead singer and the audience. After 'Pretty Visitors' the audience gave a bit of jeering to which the lead singer responded by saying, "That song was the sh#t!!, Thank you very much".

Mike13 

Jan 14, 2009

New songs were pretty good, although nothing blew me away as much as Brianstorm the first time I heard it.

pickleweasel 

Jan 14, 2009

does anyone have an idea when the album is due out? i know everyone is wondering this, but has anyone heard any details?

12Volts 

Jan 14, 2009

Really great concert and only complaint was I wish it had gone on for longer. I missed 505 and D is for Dangerous but if that is the first concert for a year, then they played really well and the show was fantastic.

catalystnz 

Jan 14, 2009

Was at last night's gig. Thought the new songs were alright - one took a particularly western turn partway through and you could almost imagine riding a horse in the Wild West... The moshers definitely responded positively to the new songs - quite heavy and rocky (?), and I reckon they'll grow on ya. Good show!

nzviolator 

Jan 14, 2009

How weird is that? My last concert at the Wellington town hall was Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, and yes, they did 'Red Right Hand'!!!! If that was their 1st gig for a year they were pretty tight. 3 out of 4 of the new tracks were excellent, with the last one sounding very Last Shadow Puppetsy

ashaas 

Jan 14, 2009

What a show! Well and truly worth waiting for hours to get front row centre. The new tracks are electrifying; a real progression from their previous work. Still keeping to Turner's signature melodies, their new riffs are dirtier and more spaced out. The crowd went off during the songs we all knew, but we were all really listening intently to the new material. By the end of "Crying Lightning" we were singing along. The new album is going to be a stunner. A five star gig definately - and meeting Turner afterwards was definately a highlight! What a nice chap! Can't wait for the Big Day Out gig and the album.

manda1 

Jan 14, 2009

i was at the gig and it was amazing. i can say without a doubt that the new songs are incredible, one that stood out was 'crying lightning' and everyone in the crowd seemed to be blown away by them.

snedd1 

Jan 14, 2009

They're back giging which is GREAT! come over to UK already! Anyone have any news on the third album release date?

Raynic 

Jan 14, 2009

The Arctics new songs sounded great and felt the Josh Homme influence. The Wellington audience did have a bit of a flat response to the new songs but that was because the sound technicians were tone deaf and didn't realise the vocals sounded muffled and couldn't make out the lyrics clearly.Nevertheless it was a privilege to have been some of the first fans to hear their new stuff and I predict the Monkeys will top the Brit charts again. This band are distinctively cool and know how belt out rocking good tunes.Can't wait for the release of their third album.

lkgrueber 

Jan 14, 2009

I am so excited to be excited about new music again.

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