Live Review: Arctic Monkeys, Pond

Opening the night at Perth Arena was local band Pond, who showcased their talent to an already pumped crowd. A mismatched-looking band with an ever-changing array of musicians, these guys nailed their slot, pumping out a killer set of ethereal, pop-vibed tunes. With a bit more of an edge than their older brother band Tame Impala, their experimental, electro-atmospheric fusion of sounds had a great feel to it and got the crowd going for what was to be a fantastic night. While their songs weren't the kind of earworms with melodies that get crazy stuck in your head, their music was excellent and they committed to putting on an entertaining show. The sounds grew more intense as the set wore on, hitting a heavy climax during older track You Broke My Cool, with a church organ giving it a darker twist than much of the rest of the set. It was a particularly refreshing sight to see each member of the band banter with the audience at various points, rather than solely frontman Nick Allbrook.

While the crowd slowly filled the arena to the brim during the break, excitement rose as the lights dimmed and Arctic Monkeys took to the stage in a haze of smoke. With a swagger reminiscent of the iconic James Dean, lead man Alex Turner set every heart aflutter as they launched straight into Do I Wanna Know? and putting the guitar down to sing directly to the crowd for Arabella. Turner's smooth, caramel-honey vocals would have melted the panties off even the straightest of men in the arena with Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair, as he slowed the guys down a notch for the song.

Including a varied mix of tracks spanning across their discography, with a particular emphasis on their latest release, AM, their set was highly driven by Turner's voice and that sweet bass-line that contributes to their mod-undulgent indie sound. The crowd virtually exploded at Turner's direct address to the ladies at the arena, in which he asked how they're all doing and followed it up with none other than the ear-splitting-roar-inducing I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor. The guys dialed it down for No. 1 Party Anthem, bringing out the acoustic guitar and disco balls for this one, stripping the sound right back.

Ending their set on 505 had the entire arena screaming for an encore, and the boys happily obliged. Almost the entire audience had their phone flashlights out and swaying along to I Wanna Be Yours, which had everyone in the moment not wanting it to end. Finishing up on R U Mine?, which contained a mini-encore to continue the song, left everyone screaming and breathless while the guys exited the stage, but not before blowing a kiss to signal the end of the night.