Arctic Monkeys wow at Rock en Seine 2011

Sheffield lads triumphant when the sun goes down in France

Will Saunders - 27 August 2011

Sheffield's finest were in thoroughbred fettle throughout their 90-minute set, taking a less exuberant, yet no less effective, route than the Foo Fighters into the hearts and minds of the soggy Parisian crowd.

"Ne t'assois pas parce que j'ai déplacé ta chaise," said frontman Alex Turner, winning over the audience with a rehearsed, but no less appreciated, translation intro to recent single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair.'

Powered by a new part-Neville Longbottom, part David Tennant 50s throwback hairstyle, Turner was in particularly confident mood as the band tore forcefully through their hit-parade back catalogue.

Evidently, a summer of touring recent album 'Suck it and See' has honed the band to a degree of super tightness only their jeans could match.

Interspersing newer tracks such as 'She's Thunderstorms' and 'Library Pictures' with classic oldies such as 'Brianstorm' and 'Crying Lightning', it was clear that the evolution of the Arctics' sound has come at no expense to quality or popularity, with the new more melodic Monkeys tunes sung back at the band with enthusiastic vigour.

Dovetailing with tradition, it was the big three of 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor', 'When the Sun Goes Down' and 'Fluorescent Adolescent' that prompted the biggest sing and jump-alongs.

A rousing denouement was ensured when Turner led the band into epic encore closer '505', packing a sufficient emotional punch to dampen more than a few already rain-flecked eyes.

"I didn't think they could top their iTunes Festival show, but the bigger venue just bought an increase in the energy and vigour of the band. Amazing," were the words of happy customer, Katie McMillan, 24, who was one of an auspiciously large number of Brits in the audience to see the Monkeys' triumphant Parisian sojourn.

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