By the time Arctic Monkeys took the stage at New Orleans’ Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in 2014, they were no longer the scrappy Sheffield lads who once blitzed MySpace with “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.” They were global headliners — sleek, swaggering, and confident — riding high off AM, the record that turned them from festival darlings into rock royalty. With Alex Turner’s pomade-perfect hair, black leather jacket, and Elvis-meets-James-Dean swagger, the band looked like they’d stepped out of a Tarantino fever dream. The crowd, already thick from the muggy Louisiana night, erupted as the opening notes of “Do I Wanna Know?” rolled across City Park like a slow, smoky wave.
The Coolest Kids in Rock
Arctic Monkeys in 2014 were an entirely different beast than the scrappy indie outfit that first made waves in the mid-2000s. Turner had morphed into a crooning frontman who oozed charisma and irony in equal measure, balancing his British cheek with a distinctly American cool. His stage presence that night was all swagger and restraint — less frantic energy, more controlled confidence. He didn’t have to do much; a sly smirk or a raised eyebrow carried the same weight as a guitar solo.
Behind him, the rest of the band — Jamie Cook on guitar, Nick O’Malley on bass, and Matt Helders on drums — held down a set that balanced precision with raw power. The mix was perfect: Turner’s vocals cut clean through the air while Helders’ tight, muscular drumming reminded everyone why Arctic Monkeys were still one of the tightest live bands around.
Setlist Flow: A Masterclass in Pacing
The set opened with “Do I Wanna Know?”, the now-iconic slow-burn groove that defines AM. Those opening, slinky guitar notes crept out like smoke, Turner’s voice cool and detached. It’s a song that doesn’t beg for attention — it commands it. Instantly, the crowd was swaying in rhythm, hundreds of arms moving in sync as the band locked into that hypnotic beat.
Without missing a beat, “Snap Out of It” followed, injecting a jolt of energy. Its upbeat bounce and playful harmonies had fans singing every word. Then came “Arabella,” complete with a cheeky snippet reminiscent of Space Invaders — an intergalactic nod that fit perfectly with the song’s cosmic guitar riff. The song was a masterclass in dynamics: smooth verses, thunderous choruses, and Turner sneering through lines like a rock ‘n’ roll Casanova.
The tempo shot upward with “Brianstorm,” the earliest blast of the night and a reminder that Arctic Monkeys’ punky roots still burned bright. The drums were manic, the guitars sharp and jagged, and the crowd went off — a welcome throwback to Favourite Worst Nightmare for longtime fans.
“Don’t Sit Down ’Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” carried that momentum, its dark riff and cryptic swagger sounding like a late-night drive through some neon-lit city. Turner didn’t just sing the lyrics; he inhabited them, twisting phrases with a smirk as the stage lights pulsed in red.
The Middle Stretch: Classic Meets Modern
When “Dancing Shoes” dropped, it felt like a time warp back to 2006. The crowd, mostly twenty- and thirty-somethings who grew up with the band, lost it. There’s a special kind of joy in hearing early Arctic Monkeys live — that wiry, post-punk energy that first made them famous. The band leaned into it, keeping it tight and snappy before gliding effortlessly into “Crying Lightning,” one of the most underrated songs in their catalog. That song’s dark, psychedelic edges came alive under the Voodoo Fest lights, with Turner’s croon echoing through the humid New Orleans air.
“All My Own Stunts” and “Knee Socks” continued the AM dominance. “Knee Socks,” especially, was dripping with late-night sensuality. The groove was deep, and the falsetto hooks from Helders shimmered over the crowd like smoke. It was one of those moments where Arctic Monkeys sounded less like a rock band and more like a funk-driven machine built for seduction.
Then came “Fluorescent Adolescent,” the crowd-pleasing singalong that will probably follow the band forever. Thousands of voices joined in as Turner stepped back from the mic, letting the audience belt out the chorus. It was nostalgia distilled into sound — the song that took them from MySpace heroes to festival headliners.
“Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” came next, a perfect late-night anthem that played even better in the Louisiana dark. The crowd moved like a single wave, Turner coolly dropping lines about intoxicated longing with a smirk that said he knew exactly how many phones were being pulled out to capture the moment.
And of course, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” arrived like a spark plug. Even years later, it still hits like caffeine to the bloodstream — a reminder of where it all began. The guitars were lightning-fast, the drums relentless, and the crowd was a blur of jumping bodies. Turner introduced it with a wry grin: “This one’s a bit of a classic, innit?”
The Slow Burn Before the Encore
“No. 1 Party Anthem” cooled the energy but deepened the mood. It’s one of those songs that showcases Turner’s evolution as a songwriter — gone were the days of pure teenage adrenaline; in its place stood a reflective crooner with a flair for melancholy. The band bathed the stage in gold light, and for a few minutes, Voodoo Fest turned into a smoky lounge in the middle of the night.
“505,” the pre-encore closer, was the emotional highlight of the evening. The crowd erupted when the first eerie notes began. There’s a hypnotic power in that song — the slow build, the emotional explosion, the quiet fall. It’s always been Arctic Monkeys’ secret weapon, and that night, it hit harder than ever. Turner sang the final lines with a mix of longing and control that hung in the humid air long after the last note faded.
The Encore: Swagger and Sentiment
When the band returned, “One for the Road” kicked things off with its swagger intact. Turner strutted across the stage, tossing knowing glances and curling his lip just so. It was all theater and attitude — but never insincere. The crowd responded with a roar, dancing and shouting along to every syllable.
Then came “I Wanna Be Yours,” the John Cooper Clarke poem turned love song, delivered with a tenderness that was almost startling. It’s one of the most delicate songs in their catalog, and Turner’s voice carried a smoky intimacy that made the entire park feel like it was swaying in unison.
Finally, “R U Mine?” brought the night to a thunderous close. The riff hit like a sledgehammer, Helders’ drums pounding with brutal precision. Turner leaned into the mic and shouted, “Are you mine?” — and thousands of fans screamed back with every ounce of energy they had left. It was cathartic, sweaty, and perfect — the sound of a band completely in control of its destiny.
The Verdict
Arctic Monkeys at Voodoo Fest 2014 was less about pyrotechnics and spectacle, and more about attitude and groove. It was a show built on confidence — a masterclass in restraint. Turner barely moved at times, but every gesture was deliberate. His bandmates, seasoned and focused, played like men who didn’t need to prove anything.
The setlist was balanced beautifully: a career-spanning mix that touched every era without ever feeling disjointed. The AM material dominated, but it never overshadowed the older tracks — it only recontextualized them, showing how far the band had come from the days of youthful snark to fully realized rock stardom.
There was a coolness to the performance — not distant, but magnetic. The band didn’t need to shout to be heard; they oozed presence. For a festival crowd, often distracted and transient, Arctic Monkeys commanded full attention from start to finish. It was one of those rare festival sets where you could feel the collective focus — thousands of people, each locked in, each knowing they were witnessing a band in their absolute prime.
Turner’s banter was minimal, but that only added to the mystique. Every word felt like it belonged, every song flowed seamlessly into the next. By the time the last note of “R U Mine?” rang out, the band walked off like they’d just executed a heist — calm, cool, and victorious.
Setlist: Arctic Monkeys – Voodoo Fest 2014
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Do I Wanna Know?
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Snap Out of It
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Arabella (with snippet similar to Space Invaders)
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Brianstorm
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Don’t Sit Down ’Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
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Dancing Shoes
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Crying Lightning
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All My Own Stunts
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Knee Socks
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Fluorescent Adolescent
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Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?
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I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
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No. 1 Party Anthem
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505
Encore:
15. One for the Road
16. I Wanna Be Yours (John Cooper Clarke cover)
17. R U Mine?
Final Thoughts
That night at Voodoo Fest, Arctic Monkeys weren’t just another headliner — they were the coolest band on Earth. They blurred the line between vintage and modern, between indie grit and pure rock star bravado. It wasn’t about recreating the past; it was about showing that the evolution of Arctic Monkeys — from teenage garage band to global headliner — was complete.
Every song, every smirk, every groove-driven beat reinforced the same truth: this was a band that had found its final form.
Grade: B-