Arctic Monkeys
SAN DIEGO, CA
Let me preface this by saying, the last time I saw Arctic Monkeys in concert (which was also my first!!) was right before the beginning of my junior year in high school. It was very last minute, I wasn't planning on going because the tickets were sold out and I didn't wanna spend $200+ on resale tickets. But my friend ended up having and extra ticket so I went with her and I am so glad I did, because no one could have predicted that Arctic Monkeys were just going to disappear for four years!
When they announced their comeback, my original plan was to go to their LA show, which they were going to play at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The reason being it was the only Southern California date they had announced and also who wouldn't wanna see a concert at a cemetery?
BUT THEN, I was having a peaceful Wednesday afternoon, when my friend texted me freaking out about the new dates they had added. Two consecutive San Diego shows at North Park Observatory, which is my favorite venue here in San Diego. It's a very small and intimate venue, that not a lot of big or mainstream artists play.
Let's just say getting tickets for these shows was going to be next to impossible. Not only was the presale going to be crazy but I was also flying to Sacramento on the day of the presale. My plane landed an hour before 10am, which is when the tickets were going on sale.
But with my previous concert presale experience and some luck, I was able to get a ticket for Thursday which was the only day I could actually go (so thank you concert gods!).
But because I was the only one out of my friends to get a ticket, that meant I had to go alone, and if I wanted front row, I had to get up really early and wait in line all by myself.
That morning I was up at 4am, I got ready, packed all my essentials, and got to the venue around 7am. I was third in line, in front of me were two groups of girls from the Bay Area, Australia and Florida. I was truly impressed that these people were first in line and none of them were even from San Diego.
It's safe to say I broke my "waiting in line for a concert" record, I waited for thirteen hours, but it was all worth it in the end. I was front center barricade, I had the most amazing view of the entire stage and the band.
The only thing that surprised me more than anything was that the band asked to have all recording equipment, including phones, banned from the show. No one was allowed to take pictures or record anything during the show. The security really enforced this; some people tried to take a picture or secretly record a song, and as soon as their phones were pulled out the security guards would jump in the crowd and take their phones away for the entirety of the show. The only pictures I was able to take were from the end of the show as the band was walking off stage.
At first I was disappointed that I couldn't take one proper picture, because I had waited so long to get that barricade spot and I knew this was most likely never going to happen again, as most of the venues they play are amphitheaters and arenas. But once the show started and the phones were put away, I was actually grateful for that ban because I think everyone actually got to enjoy the show without watching it through their phone. No one's view was blocked from a phone screen and you didn't have to worry about constantly snapping pictures.
When they announced their comeback, my original plan was to go to their LA show, which they were going to play at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The reason being it was the only Southern California date they had announced and also who wouldn't wanna see a concert at a cemetery?
BUT THEN, I was having a peaceful Wednesday afternoon, when my friend texted me freaking out about the new dates they had added. Two consecutive San Diego shows at North Park Observatory, which is my favorite venue here in San Diego. It's a very small and intimate venue, that not a lot of big or mainstream artists play.
Let's just say getting tickets for these shows was going to be next to impossible. Not only was the presale going to be crazy but I was also flying to Sacramento on the day of the presale. My plane landed an hour before 10am, which is when the tickets were going on sale.
But with my previous concert presale experience and some luck, I was able to get a ticket for Thursday which was the only day I could actually go (so thank you concert gods!).
But because I was the only one out of my friends to get a ticket, that meant I had to go alone, and if I wanted front row, I had to get up really early and wait in line all by myself.
That morning I was up at 4am, I got ready, packed all my essentials, and got to the venue around 7am. I was third in line, in front of me were two groups of girls from the Bay Area, Australia and Florida. I was truly impressed that these people were first in line and none of them were even from San Diego.
It's safe to say I broke my "waiting in line for a concert" record, I waited for thirteen hours, but it was all worth it in the end. I was front center barricade, I had the most amazing view of the entire stage and the band.
The only thing that surprised me more than anything was that the band asked to have all recording equipment, including phones, banned from the show. No one was allowed to take pictures or record anything during the show. The security really enforced this; some people tried to take a picture or secretly record a song, and as soon as their phones were pulled out the security guards would jump in the crowd and take their phones away for the entirety of the show. The only pictures I was able to take were from the end of the show as the band was walking off stage.
At first I was disappointed that I couldn't take one proper picture, because I had waited so long to get that barricade spot and I knew this was most likely never going to happen again, as most of the venues they play are amphitheaters and arenas. But once the show started and the phones were put away, I was actually grateful for that ban because I think everyone actually got to enjoy the show without watching it through their phone. No one's view was blocked from a phone screen and you didn't have to worry about constantly snapping pictures.
It was such an energetic performance, and you could tell they were so happy to be back and playing shows. The new songs they played sounds like nothing they've done before!
I am so excited to hear their new album in its entirety and hopefully see them again live in the fall.
Pre-order their new album Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, here!
Setlist:
Four Out of Five
Arabella
Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
The View From the Afternoon
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
505
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
She Looks Like Fun
Crying Lightning
Do I Wanna Know?
Brainstorm
Pretty Visitors
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
Fireside
Knee Socks
Cornerstone
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
One Point Perspective
One for the Road
R U Mine?
For concerts I've been to, and the ones that are coming up, check here.
I am so excited to hear their new album in its entirety and hopefully see them again live in the fall.
Pre-order their new album Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, here!
Setlist:
Four Out of Five
Arabella
Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
The View From the Afternoon
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
505
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
She Looks Like Fun
Crying Lightning
Do I Wanna Know?
Brainstorm
Pretty Visitors
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
Fireside
Knee Socks
Cornerstone
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
One Point Perspective
One for the Road
R U Mine?
For concerts I've been to, and the ones that are coming up, check here.
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