Before their destiny was performed though, even younger, even fresher band Milburn took the stage to see how many heads they could turn. Milburn prove to be a fairly safe choice as a support act, playing a fairly OK set which is similar to The Artic Monkey’s sound. Thus, due to their better-than-average performance, they go down well with the crowd playing a set which tips its hat at: The Hives, The Libertines, The Specials, The Monkeys and even more bizarre the original Batman theme tune. For a band that recently learned that they will be joining the NME club tour this year, they don’t really look particularly excited or even that special. But this is a band that has only just begun to find their feet, and look to be a band who should improve all the time.

What happened next couldn’t really be predicted though. When The Arctic Monkeys finally did arrive, a band that still do not have an album release to their name I should remind you, there was almost a riot. The roof was literally lifted and all they had so far done is walk on stage to a hip-hop tune. Kicking off with current single ‘I bet you look good on the dance floor’ the place erupted in an orgy of singing, screaming and most of all, dancing. The crowd genuinely loving every second of it, singing every word as if their lives depended on it, it was as if this was a band were onto their 4th album release and on a major label. Lead singer/guitarist Alex Turner, knew exactly how to handle the crowd as well, creating a good atmosphere and presence for all to appreciate, suggesting the making of a new rock icon. Turner also proved that this hype is more widespread than first thought, when bantering with the crowd, he discovered that only half or the audience were actually from in and around Norwich, some coming from as far as Sheffield to see this gig. Making the crowd feel at ease and egging them on in their hysteria, Turner gave something else the crowd to shout about, other than the impressive roster of songs.

The songs themselves, as you could probably expect, don’t really do anything groundbreaking or different, but if they wanted to do that then they probably wouldn’t be making the music they do; filled with raw passion and energy, so it’s not really surprising that by the end of the night the whole place was jumping around and dancing. Yes, it is all a bit familiar, but it is also a bit good really, and they look to be a band that will keep improving and will soon be breaking the mainstream and saying there in ways not yet thought possible. The not so glamorous Rotherham has hope yet.

Adam Turner-Heffer