Five Songs Arctic Monkeys Don’t Play Live (And Probably Should)

It's a set list conversation-starter...

Those who had the opportunity to attend Glastonbury were lucky enough to catch sets from queen Lizzo, Foo Fighters (or should that be The Churn-Ups?) and an iconic final performance from Sir Elton John.

The opening night at Glastonbury saw everyone’s favourite Sheffield-born indie icons Arctic Monkeys take to The Pyramid Stage, with Alex Turner & Co once again breaking hearts with their library of iconic tunes, songs that date back to the early noughties before surging to 2022 released ‘The Car’. 

It’s fair to say Arctic Monkeys have more than a few crowd pleasers – perhaps too many to fit into one set, it could be argued. As a result, there are many classics that seem to have escaped the setlist completely, leaving many of us die-hard Monkey fans begging for more. Indeed, the Glastonbury set list was a hot topic, with even ex-footballer turned sports pundit Jamie Carragher chiming in.

As the band embark on the last leg of their 2023 tour, we have selected five cuts that no longer show up on the set list, despite being fan favourites.

‘When The Sun Goes Down’

The second single taken from Arctic Monkeys’ debut ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ is a classic in the band’s archives, an instant burst of energy peppered with Noughties nostalgia. ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ is rarely played live, at least not on recent setlists. Catch this track played in a bar or a club, you’ll likely struggle to find someone who misses a lyric.

‘Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You’

B-Side on the single ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?’, this electric, dance-ready tune rarely gets played live despite being a fan favourite. Energetic and romantic, it’s another tune that needs more air time. 

‘No. 1 Party Anthem’

Track six from fifth studio album ‘AM’, ‘No. 1 Party Anthem’ has become a favourite amongst the Arctic Monkey fandom yet hasn’t been played live in a number of years. A track that exhibits Alex Turner’s distinctive lyricism  and a melody that makes for a great slow dance, it’s sorely missed from the setlist. 

‘One For The Road’

Another taken from ‘AM’, ‘One For The Road’ is another tune that platforms the band’s clever take on the indie genre. Once again littered with Turner’s poetic lyricism and with loud guitar riffs that are made for live play, this tune would for sure be a crowd pleaser if played at a show.

‘Dance Little Liar’

Eighth track on third record ‘Humbug’, the shimmering guitar riffs from ‘Dance Little Liar’ is an underrated track from Arctic Monkeys. It’s sharp, loud and perfect for a festival stage

Arctic Monkeys headlining Reading - Ben McQuaide-5

Agree? Disagree? Join in the discussion on Twitter.

Words: Isabella Miller // @izzyrmiller
Internal Photo: Ben McQuaide