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Arctic Monkeys Do The White Stripes in Detroit

Arctic Monkeys have been dishing out a few surprises since starting the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino tour in May.

Frontman Alex Turner shaved his head for one, more or less destroying the lounge singer vibe he had going on in step with the sound of AM’s sixth album.

The music-making primates also perked a lot of ears when they were in New York recently and covered The Strokes’ “Is This It”. Aside from “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Arctic Monkeys hadn’t been known for their covers during concerts. OK, there was “Come Together” at the London Olympics a handful of people may have seen. On August 1st in Detroit however, they paid homage to Rock City legends The White Stripes with a version of “The Union Forever”. Shout out to my friend and fellow White Stripes fan Mike MacDonald who messaged me from the Masonic Temple as this was unfolding!

While this is all well and cool, it begs the question of who else the Sheffield lads are going to honour now that a precedent appears to have been set.

They’re at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, August 5th after appearances at Lollapalooza and Osheaga. Before you all scream how Drake would be a natural, just know Franz Ferdinand already took care of “Passionfruit” in Strombo’s living room. I’m not a Seth Rogen hater, but Drakkar Noir really should be doing those TTC etiquette announcements instead of the dude who will be voicing Pumbaa in The Lion King remake.

Broken Social Scene perhaps? I don’t know about you all, but I’m now excited about the prospect of a Richard (Ultra)Cheese-y interpretation by Mr. Turner of Death from Above’s “Romantic Rights”!

Gilles LeBlanc

Gilles LeBlanc literally fell into “alternative rock” wayyy back at Lollapalooza 1992, where he got caught in his first mosh pit watching some band named Pearl Jam. Since then, he’s spent the better part of his life looking for music to match the liberating rush he felt that day, with a particular chest-beating emphasis on stuff coming out of his native Canada. It took him awhile, but Gilles now writes feverishly about all things that rock (and or roll) through his ROCKthusiast alter ego.

Gilles LeBlanc has 104 posts and counting. See all posts by Gilles LeBlanc

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