Alt-rock heavyweights Arctic Monkeys planned its fall tour with a mission: to reach fans in outlying cities. To local fans’ delight, that includes Baton Rouge.
Shock may be a common reaction to hearing that Arctic Monkeys will play a headlining show Oct. 5 at the Varsity Theatre. Why would a band that typically plays to sold-out arenas make a stop in a relatively small city? Why would it pass up New Orleans for Baton Rouge?
According to drummer Matt Helders, adding smaller venues to the London-based band’s tour roster was completely intentional.
“We can only do so much in England and Europe, there’s still a lot of stuff to do in America,” Helders said. “Even within Europe there can be completely different crowds. Like places that don’t get many shows seem to appreciate it more, and crowds are crazier, I suppose.”
And Arctic Monkeys’ Oct. 5 show to a nearly sold-out crowd is sure to be one for the books.
Fans can expect a much different performance from the band due to its recent change in material. The band’s latest album, “AM,” hitting shelves Sept. 5, incorporates a hefty R&B influence that stems from a change in the band’s collective musical taste.
“[We listen to] anything from Black Sabbath to TLC — music we all listen to together in the dressing room and on the tour bus and everyday we listen to hip-hop,” Helders said.
This new sound made its first appearance on 2012’s “R U Mine?” While recording the track, the band decided to incorporate backing vocals with a more soulful vibe, tapping into a side of themselves they’d never shown previously.
“I think, like when we did ‘Humbug’ and we worked with Josh from Queens of the Stone Age, we stepped out of our comfort zones a bit. Even if we make an album that sounds different, we’re still Arctic Monkeys,” Helders said.
Now at a comfortable balance, the band has been able to create a record that sounds vintage but also stays true to the root of its modern sound.
“This album felt like the record we’ve always been trying to make, in a way,” Helders said.