By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – British indie-rock band Arctic Monkeys are making their return to Brazil after a five year absence with a one-off show in Rio de Janeiro this Wednesday, April 3rd, before taking on São Paulo’s Lollapalooza Brasil 2019 as one of the headline acts.
The band return to South America as part of the tour for their latest album, 2018’s ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.’ This album, which was well-received by critics, was the first release from the Arctic Monkeys following their hiatus at the end of the band’s AM tour, in 2014.
The album saw a stark stylistic difference as the band steered away from their often guitar-reliant tunes to a spacier, slower-tempo lounge pop. The lyrics too signaled a shift in focus, following the concept-album style of a hotel resort on the moon, with front-man Alex Turner adopting the roles of different guests and other characters.
Formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England, the Arctic Monkeys experienced a stratospheric rise to fame with the success of their first single ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,’ reaching number one in the UK charts. They were among the first wave of bands who achieved a considerable following on internet platforms such as Myspace, which then crossed over to mainstream commercial success.
The group’s first studio album, ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,’ still holds the record as the fastest-selling debut album in British history. The band also have a huge following in Brazil, having performed in Rio and the rest of the country many times and to great fanfare.
What: Arctic Monkeys
When: Wednesday, April 3rd, 6PM
Where: Jeunesse Arena, Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401 – Barra da Tijuca
Entrance: Tickets from R$160; available here