Tomorrow is the big day. Arctic Monkeys headline MSG in their biggest American show to date. I asked you guys, their biggest fans, to share thoughts on the show, and what its significance means to you.
A few of you guys took the time to write something, which is easier said than done, so thanks to you guys that actually took the time to participate. I appreciate it.
Instead of compiling all them together, I’m going to release them one by one, so each person’s post gets their own individual spotlight. Find Erin Browne’s post below (and her on twitter).
Erin Browne
On Saturday February 8th, I am going to see my favorite band in concert for the seventh time. On Saturday February 8th, I am going to see my favorite band with almost 20,000 other people. For the first time.
It is easy for me to remember the exact date that I started listening to Arctic Monkeys, because it is the day that their first album was released in the UK. I owe thanks to Myspace and a teenage obsession with any band that was from England. Arctic Monkeys were different for me though. They weren’t just some fleeting romance, they were it for me. From the very beginning. As an aspiring writer, Alex Turner’s lyrics swirled in and out of my thoughts for days after I listened to that album for the first time. I desperately clung to his words, finally finding answers to questions I hadn’t realized I had asked. I ran to my dad, a massive music fan himself, to show him my new favorite band. He listened with a smile on his face, seeing in me an expression he knew well himself. An expression of complete adoration. Of awe. Of wonder. And expression that he wore when he listened to Elvis Costello. Arctic Monkeys were my secret. I was fifteen and protective and I was sure as hell not going to be the first person to bring Arctic Monkeys up for fear of sharing, but no one else was bringing them up either.
There were times when I would venture forward and mumble “Arctic Monkeys” when someone would ask me who my favorite band was. However it was very rare for me to find someone who knew the name, let alone shared my love for them. And now, eight years later, I am going to see them at Madison Square Garden, with almost 20,000 other people. 20,000 other people who share my secret.
I know that this is not the largest crowd that Arctic Monkeys has played in front of. I also know this is not the first time they have played Madison Square Garden. It won’t even be my first time seeing them at Madison Square Garden. But it is their first time headlining there, it is their largest American headlining show, and it is sold out. When I think about this, I almost can’t comprehend it. To me, they are still that band I coveted so closely in my formative teen years. The band that people laughed at when I said the name. The band that I, despite how desperately I wanted to keep them a secret, wanted nothing more than to have 20,000 people to share them with. To scream along with. To share my expression of awe and wonder.
Since AM’s release, I have been getting texts and phone calls that mostly say “you’re right” or “I get it now” or “I finally see why they are your favorite band.” My response is always one of pride mixed with “told you so” or “yeah, finally.” And Saturday February 8th will be those texts come to fruition. Saturday February 8th will be the visualization of my biggest secret.
Finally.
Join the conversation