Live Review: Arctic Monkeys, Pond

At the moment, mercurial Perth outfit Pond is a hairy, five-headed, psychedelic music-making beast. Tonight they choose a Christmas colour palette – red and green – which shrouds them in light and there's even a couple of strands of Christmas tree lights woven through their gear. The band members resemble dorm-sharing stoners performing at a University Union Night. Afroed bassist Joseph Ryan and drummer Jay Watson share spokesman duties and it doesn't take long before we're swept up in their mystical majesty. Frontman Nick Allbrook sits on the edge of the stage with his guitar, legs dangling over like Kermit The Frog singing Rainbow Connection. They really are a riff-building behemoth and You Broke My Cool takes us there.

As the towering “AM” lighting rig is constructed upstage, an endless stream of teens harass Andy Lee (who is seated in the row behind us) for selfies. Some of these kids probably first discovered Arctic Monkeys through Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? Others present however, were there in 2006 watching what once was a spotty group who lacked stage presence, but played material from their debut album perfectly. Now with five long-players under their effortlessly on-trend belts, their show is a stylish affair and Arctic Monkeys exude the confidence to match their achievements. Big screen footage throughout is in tasteful, flattering black and white, the musicians looking sartorially flawless.

Frontman Alex Turner prowls through Arabella, minus guitar but with swag to spare. “Are you 'appy to 'ave us back?” he enquires. You wouldn't wanna be on the other side of drummer Matt Helders' pummels, but could watch the motion of his sticks all night: they're all a blur, like Road Runner's legs in full flight. There are a total of six musicians onstage and Turner is bookended by two hirsute guitarists. Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair, all syncopated emphasis and understated sexiness, elicits a new kind of stink face with raised-eyebrow twist. Dancing Shoes demonstrates the fact that this band's lyrical and songwriting chops were always present and Turner sure has transformed into a “sexy little swine”. Heck, their debut I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor single (2005) sounds equally as vibrant just under ten years on. Some speccy, mirrorball-assisted lighting turns the stadium into a constellation. Turner plays proper complex guitar patterns while singing, far from the casual, rhythmic strum adopted by many a frontman. “I don't wanna go, but I gotta,” Turner bemoans before main set closer 505.

We lure them back and Arctic Monkeys bravely hit us with two sauntering, foreplay numbers – One For The Road and I Wanna Be Yours – before Turner tells us he's been wondering something all night: R U Mine?, which comes at us complete with flawless falsetto and paralysing drum flourishes. And what's most exciting is: you get the sense there's no shortage of creative juices on planet Arctic Monkeys. Their longevity is ensured.