Review of the Arctic Monkeys on the Main Stage at Oxegen yesterday
Atmosphere: Lively! Whipping out a few tunes from their strong current album, Suck it and See, as well as a few favourites, Alex Turner and friends (including former Last Shadow Puppets colleague Miles Kane) drew a diverse audience. There was even the traditional 'festival sprint' on a few occasions, as punters sprang from the ground and towards the stage when the hits were played.
High: Turner's voice sounded fantastic, especially on Mardi Bum.
Low: Arguably the most articulate lyricist of his generation, it would have been nice if he'd talked to the crowd a little more.
Quote: "That's not a skirt, it's a sawn-off-shotgun" (from Suck it and See).
Verdict: With killer cords, beautiful lyrics enunciated well and a cohesive, precise performance, this was a testament to a band at their peak – youthful energy fused with years of experience.
Stars: 4