The Arctic Monkeys’ comeback shows at Reading Festival 2022 were more than just a gig, but were a seismic full-circle moment of triumph that will go down in modern British live music history.Ever since the ominous first rumble of “Do I Wanna Know?”, the Sheffield heroes proved once again why they’re hailed as one of the UK’s most iconic bands.
This wasn’t any old-headed slot; this was the first time the band had played in the UK in four years, and the atmosphere was crackling with expectation. They hadn’t been lined up waiting to get into the Main Stage East since 11 a.m. for nothing, sun and foot fatigue be damned, and certainly not for a buried view of the show.
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Alex Turner led the lineup with the swagger-driven cocktail of suave, incredible, and rock ‘n’ roll grit that’s long been his signature, and steered the band through a slick, emotional rollercoaster of an 18-song set, plus a rapturously received three-track encore. With a bruising “Brianstorm,” a slick “Snap Out Of It,” and a biting “Teddy Picker,” the band made it easy for everyone to see: Their legacy isn’t nostalgia but a legacy of continued greatness.
But what distinguished this night was the tension of showmanship and sincerity. Even the deep cuts sat comfortably alongside fan favorites, as The 1975 showed off that they are still deeply in love with what they do and the people who like them.
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