#those arctic monkeys concert that are

[nicoscheer]

You’re honor they are soulmates and even if they might not be romantic ones they are 110% platonic soulmates and I hope that in my life I will be lucky enough to find my second half like Alex and Miles found each other, like they are just clearly meant for each other be it as friends or something more

Alex and Miles at The Strokes concert (in the radio x interview (18.04.2023) miles makes it kinda sound like that was just one of the The strokes concert that they went to together)

And I just love/ am really proud of Miles that he feels so comfortable in his own skin and with his masculinity that he just dresses and acts however he wants to without giving a second thought about how it might look and that’s just beautiful and refreshing when a man isn’t so concerned with his fragile masculinity that he has to hide away his personality and humanity;

In love with Miles’ blush and the fact that they added a wrestler figure to his birthday cake

Also a song lyric “we made pretend we were best friends”

really love dynamics that are like 'it honestly doesn't matter if you view them as romantic or platonic, the point is that they love each other. the type of love is inconsequential, all that matters is that it's there'. gotta be one of my favorite genders.

and that just sums them up

[hellcatsandcars]

every time there's an am concert i see comments here on tumblr and my conviction that most people here have never performed in front of an audience grows immensely

[fuckermcfucker]

My dad likes to act like a "gatekeepy allknowing rocker"™ (wouldn't be caught dead listening to something more "femme" or whatever) sometimes even though we both know he listens to sufjan stevens, birdy and lana del rey when he wants to relax and/or work

[andbreakmynose]

he won't go away

he's haunting you. am al.

WARNINGS: p-in-v, he's possessive and a bit mean, feelings, references to drugs/drinking, technically cheating but not really

WORD COUNT: 4.2k

Being a young woman in the 21st century had to be torture. You thought the breakup would be the hardest part; moving all your stuff out of the shared apartment was incredibly sad; sometimes you still got sad when you saw his shirts in your closet. But it turns out the hardest part is actually trying to get back out there. The apps of hell.

It was practically impossible to find someone who matched your standards. Alex, your ex, was so perfect in (almost) every way that everyone else paled in comparison. Seriously, how were you supposed to fall back in love when your last boyfriend was a global phenomenon rockstar?

He was almost everywhere you looked, practically inescapable. Every shop you went into was selling his newest record or playing one of their songs. His face was in every magazine at every store. The month you spent traveling in the states didn’t even help; Arctic Monkeys had finally crossed over, and he was big there too.

The worst part of it was that even when you scrolled Tinder to move on, you��d see him. Someone would have them as his favorite band; they’d have a lyric in their bio; they’d be wearing merchandise; or you’d check their Instagram to see concert photos. It was a frustrating cycle of constant reminders that he didn’t want you anymore.

That’s what he said—that he couldn’t stand to be in a relationship with you anymore. That he was moving on to “bigger and better things,” and you weren’t a part of that. You had sensed it was coming; he had started to become cockier; he was drinking and smoking more, and you even thought he might be taking something stronger. You didn’t blame him though; he was on top of the world, and you were just his hometown girlfriend who worked a 9-5.

You didn’t mean to keep up with him, but you read the headlines: ‘Arctic Monkeys Announces Massive UK Tour’, ‘Arctic Monkeys Sells Out Madison Square Garden’, ‘Arctic Monkeys To Headline Reading and Leeds.”

Those were tolerable; you knew he’d be big. The ones that bothered you were the personal ones. ‘Alex Turner Seen Wasted After Big Night Out’, ‘Alex Turner Seen With Another Mystery Blonde’. That was frustrating. You envied him in a sense; he didn’t have to worry about seeing your name anywhere. He was able to move on as quickly as possible and never look back. He had all the money, all the girls, and everything he could ever need at his disposal.

It was obvious you had become bitter; your best friend had remarked that you ‘just hadn’t been yourself’ since the breakup and “needed to get laid soon” or you’d “become a criminal case.” Maybe she was right, and that's what put you on the apps. You wanted to find a nice, normal man, someone who wasn’t performing at the Olympics.

The guys were nice for the most part. You had seen a few cute ones and had a few good conversations. There was even a date once! He was a nice guy from the north side of town who worked at a bank. The dinner you had with him was good, but the chemistry just wasn’t there.

For every match there were at least 50 strikeouts, but you were hopeful about this current guy. His name was Rob. Rob was tall and had pretty blue eyes and worked a well-paying job in finance. He liked nature and Oasis and had two dogs. He was the type of normalcy you craved. He asked you on a date, and of course you said yes; maybe you’d finally move on.

-

The two of you decided on one of your favorite pubs on a Saturday. And when Saturday came along, you pushed your nerves to the side and tried to look as presentable as possible. You felt a bit guilty about wearing a dress that Alex bought you, but you had to wear it at some point. You cover yourself in perfume and slip on your finest lace lingerie, just for the confidence. Today is supposed to be the day you become the new you.

Rob was already there when you arrived; he wore a nice outfit and looks good, but you’re not immediately head over heels. Maybe this would take time; that was fine. He gestured to the open bar stool next to him and the pint waiting for you. You smiled and walked over to him.

“Hey! Thanks for... this.” You pointed your head towards the pint and took a seat next to him.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he smiled at you, giving your body a once-over. “You’re even more beautiful in person.”

His compliment doesn’t fluster you as much as it should, but you still smiled and thanked him, attaching your lips to the glass and taking a drink.

The conversation was easy; he told you about what it’s like to work in finance, and you told him what it’s like in your occupation. He showed you pictures of his three dogs whose names you could not remember, and you showed him pictures from your trip to Italy last year, neglecting to add the piece of information that you went with Alex.

Things seemed to be going really well; your bar stool had ended up closer to his, and his hand brushed across your knee a few times. Maybe the night would end well and you’d get to go home with him; you hadn’t been fucked since Alex and your vibrator weren’t doing the job anymore. In fact, it was going so well that you were about to ask about a second date when his head perked up and his eyes darted to a corner.

“Holy shit! Is that the guy from Arctic Monkeys?”

Your first thought was that somehow he knew that he was fucking with you and wanted to get you upset. But then you noticed the genuine surprise and shock in his face—a lump forming in your throat. Maybe he got his people confused?

The split second glance you turned in Alex’s direction is all you needed to know it was him. He was carrying himself the same way he had been, and you could almost hear the boom of his voice from the other side of the pub. Christ. Your stomach suddenly felt like you could throw up any second.

“I think it is.” Your voice was barely above a mutter, but Rob heard it all, his face perking up even more.

“That’s so cool! I saw them last time they came here!”

You nodded and said you saw them too. You didn’t tell him that you also saw them in London and Paris and New York and Tokyo, and that he dedicated a song to you on your birthday at a show in New Jersey. It felt like years of memories were flooding back, but you just had to repress that.

It seemed that Rob wasn’t that big of a fan because he quickly diverted his attention back to you and started talking about some hike he took a few months ago. You’re sure it was lovely, but your mind couldn’t really focus on anything but the man who hadn’t even noticed your presence. You kept nodding and attached your lips to your drink.

After a bit of one-sided conversation, Rob patted you on the back and excused himself to the restroom. He leaves you alone. Alone with Alex, only half a room away. You ordered a second drink to try and distract yourself, but that’s no help.

You swear you hear your name come from his lips, echoing in your eyes in an almost painful way. It’s just a hallucination; you’re just remembering stuff. That’s what you tell yourself.

“Her? Yeah, she was my bitch ex. Too uptight for me, if you know what I mean.” His voice booms through the room, like he’s purposely saying it as loud as possible because he knows you’ll hear. Fuck.

You couldn’t help it; you had to check. When you turn your head to the side to see him again, his dark eyes are staring right into you, that cocky smirk he adopted in the last months of your relationship present on his face. He caught you.

You didn’t recognize the guys he was with; they were probably figures from his new life. You also didn’t recognize the blonde girl he conveniently had his hand on the ass of. You couldn’t tell rather to be flustered or pissed that his attention was on you and not whoever she was. He still stared directly into your soul; something between anxiety and sorrow filled you up.

Rob returned after a minute, snapping you out of your trance and pulling your attention back onto him. Right, your date. You smiled and tried to focus on his face—his face that was nowhere near as attractive as Alex’s.

“So, what was it you were saying about hiking in Ireland?” It was a copout, but it was safe; he was more than happy to talk about himself. He went on and on about the cows and the grass and his sister Emily.

Every few minutes you’d hear Alex say something else. Something about the ‘pretty lady standing next to him’ or the ‘total fucking bender’ he went on last week. Was he trying to rile you up? Get a reaction? Well yeah, it worked. You could feel your blood start to boil while you drank more and more.

That caught up; after maybe your third drink you had to pee, really bad. You stood up and apologized to Rob before excusing yourself in the ladies room. Your head was starting to spin, and it would be lying to say you weren’t overwhelmed. You did your business and took a second to breathe.

You opened the door to head back to your date that was going very well. Thank you. The door creaked open and then shut just as instantly, your back against the door and your body back in the bathroom. Him.

He wasn’t a big man by any means, but his presence took up the entire room; it made you feel small. Alex was staring down at you, and it was hard to tell if he was really bored or really turned on.

“We need to talk.” Is all that he uttered? His voice was surprisingly monotone for him.

“In the ladies room at a pub?”

He nods.

“I have a date. He’ll get worried.” You crossed your arms, trying to hold your ground even though all you wanted to do was fold.

“Yeah. That’s why we need to talk.” He backed away from the door and leaned against the wall, very obviously checking himself out in the mirror. He ran a hand through his quiff and turned back to you with a scoff. “I don’t like him. He’s a twat.”

You scoff back, “Yeah? Well, last time I checked, you didn’t like me either.” Alex winces at this.

“I never said that,” he corrected you, his face slightly less smug. “I said I wanted to explore. Try new things. Spend the rest of my tour living like a real rockstar.” He pauses for dramatic effect, staring you up and down. “But I’m over that, baby; I want you back. I want to be us again. Please.”

You couldn’t tell if he was drunk or not; he probably was. He was probably drunk and didn’t know what he was saying. But goddamnit, these last months of pain came back, and you couldn’t help but feel for him. You wanted him back too.

“What about your new life? The fucking benders. All your new friends out there... the new girl you were fondling earlier.” You needed to stay strong; you couldn’t cave like that. You made sure that all your mockery and frustration with him for the last months came out in your voice.

He sighed again, his hand returning to his quiff. You couldn’t tell if he was that obsessed with himself that he wanted to perfect it constantly or if it was a nervous habit.

“What about your new life? Chad from finance is telling you about the stock market and his university days.”

“Rob, actually. And he’s very nice. Nicer than you’ve been this past year.” An eye roll.

Alex guffawed at this, nodding his head in a way that reminded you of a movie greaser.

“And yet you still want me more than him, don’t you? You want me again just as bad as I want you.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. Maybe it was the alcohol, but yeah, you were getting hot and bothered. The rockstar act was obnoxious, but it was also sexy as hell.

“I can’t just leave. Rob’s a nice guy; I don’t want to destroy him.” Even if you were about to throw yourself at your ex, you still had enough morals to think about Rob.

Alex hummed and thought for a second; he wasn’t going to let you just run away from him. He needed you to come back home.

“Go up to him and say ya got your period or something. You need to go home and take care of it. You’re a smart girl; figure it out.” Condescension laced his voice. He brought his hand up and ran it across your arm just to watch the goosebumps it elicited. “See, you want this. Come home with me.”

You couldn’t fight it anymore and nodded. You were weak for him; he was your weakness. He was perfect, and you couldn’t go without feeling him again.

“I’ll meet you out front,” the smirk reappeared on his face, and he gently guided you out of the bathroom with his hand on your ass. He went right towards the exit and left you to go right towards Rob.

“Hey Rob. I’m sorry it took me forever. I have some lady problems going on, and I need to run home and grab a pad. I’ll text you about a second date, yeah?” You smiled at him but gave him no time to respond before you were out the front door and Alex was wrapping his big hands around your back. You had a long night ahead.

He kept his hand on your shoulder the entire way home; no words fell from his mouth. There was this feeling he was giving you, like he was disappointed beyond words even though he was the one that ended things.

The drive to his place was painstakingly familiar. You had done this very same trip back and forth more times than you could count. One of your first dates had been him taking you here and then kissing you while the band played a Stone Roses song; maybe you had fucked with fate by returning to the same location.

You felt a sharp pain searing through your heart when you saw the brick exterior of his flat. That was your home. Your home for two years that you had been shut out of only within the last 5 months. And you were back.

He made a whistling noise followed by a click, as if you were a dog. You’re embarrassed in the way you immediately folded, hopping out of the car and walking up the familiar stairs to the front door. His keys opened it up, and you took a step inside, the sight of it all flooding your senses.

The flat was redecorated, but it was still yours; there was your old sofa in the corner, the painting you bought with him at the market, and his collection of leather boots sat at the door. The smell was also different; it was no longer you and Alex. It was just Alex. Musky cologne and cigarette smoke replaced what was once the smell of your baking and your combined scents.

Alex watched you take in the sight; a humorless chuckle left his lips. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel the same pain; he missed you more than he wanted to admit. His eyes flicked back over to your body, scanning you in. Fuck, that dress.

“Why are you wearing my dress?” It was basically a bark, an accusation. All pain he felt was met with anger. You were wearing something he bought you to see another man.

“It’s not your dress. It’s mine.” Playing dumb never worked with Alex, so you were unsure why you did it. Maybe it was a defense mechanism that led to your relationship's downfall.

“Don’t be a bitch. I bought that dress with my money for my eyes to see you in it. It’s my dress.” His voice was harsher now; the frustration of months without you and the alcohol clouded his head.

“I thought it made me look pretty. And until an hour ago, you wanted nothing to do with me. I figured game was game.” There’s a truth to your words, but it still elicited a deep scoff from the back of his throat. He took a step towards you.

“Does make you look pretty. You’ve always been the prettiest baby.” You started to take this as him softening in a way; he was complimenting you instead of getting mad again. But then he took another step forward and, in one swift motion, pulled the dress over the top of your head, leaving you exposed in your lace bra and panty set. A deep blush covered your face, and a groan left his mouth.

“Fuck. You’re killing me, baby.” His hands started to travel up and down your body, making your body shiver when he ran by your chest and hips. “You expected him to take you back home? You wanted him to fuck you and make you forget all about me?”

“I tried,” but before you could even begin to explain the complexity of emotions running through your brain, he threw you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. It was simultaneously the most degrading, humiliating, and hot thing you’d ever experienced.

He brought you over to the bed, your old shared bed, and threw you down on it, looking down at you with lust-blown eyes.

“I tried. I really tried. But I just can’t fucking get over you. Been looking for you everywhere, hoping to make you mine again.” The confession made your heart stop, but not for long until his hands started to remove your bra. All the heat and tension of the moment made your panties start to feel wetter, and your nipples perked up. Alex licked his lips.

“You were looking for me?” You tried to manage your cool and not give in too easily. You hadn’t been fucked in so long, but he was supposed to be your ex; he kicked you out, and now he’s begging for you back.

“You were looking for me too. Don’t lie.” He said it like he knew it was a truth, even if you hadn’t admitted it yet. His hands slipped off your underwear and slipped it in his pocket. “You’re not wearing these for someone else again.”

After seeing how you bit your lip to hide a moan, he smirked and ran two long fingers through your folds. Nothing could compare to his touch; you had tried so many different vibrators, and yet you hadn’t felt pleasure like this since the last time he touched you. A small whimper escaped your lips, and thats when he knew he won. You were his again.

He started to circle his fingers around your entrance, brushing against your clit a few times before entering you. The first moan of the night escaped your lips, and he gave a knowing nod and chuckle. His free hand worked to dispose of his leather jacket and then started to work at the buttons of his shirt.

“I’ll fuck you if you say you’re mine again. If you promise to come back to me. Be my baby again. Me and you.” He rasped, voice pooling with desire, dominance, and genuine affection. It was an odd combination, but so was Alex. It all made you miss him more. He bent his fingers inside of you and started to move them faster.

“SHIT! Yeah. Yeah. I’ll be yours again. Please Alex.” You felt pathetic at how easy you gave in, but the sight of the bulge pressing against his jeans was enough to show that you weren’t the only one desperate. And it was nice to know he wanted you back for more than just a fuck.

“Atta girl.” He smirked and then removed his hand from inside of you, bringing it to his lips to taste the distinct and vaguely sour-sweet juices from you. The sight was pornographic, and while you whined at the lack of contact, you moaned at the sight. “Missed your taste,” he added before he used his hands to slip his jeans and boxers off in one solid motion.

And there you were, back to old times. Two naked figures in a shared bedroom. Most of your nights pre-breakup were spent fucking until you both passed out. You were sure tonight would be no different.

He pushed you back on the bed slightly, angling his own body so his throbbing would line up with your leaking cunt. The sight made you salivate; he was big, and the head was turning red in desperation. It was like his cock missed you just as much as the rest of him.

He leaned down to meet your lips in a searing kiss, not even bothering to ask you for permission to slip his tongue in your mouth. He let this dance go on for a bit, the kiss becoming sloppier and teeth starting to collide. He let you get totally preoccupied in the kiss before he shoved himself inside of you with no real warning, his entire length puncturing your hole.

You were definitely tighter than last time you two fucked, the result of the absence of him. He smiled at that; it felt better than it ever had, and it was a confirmation you were really holding yourself back for him.

“Tight baby. Thank you for not sharing my pussy with everyone else.” He chuckled a bit at his own words, as if they were funny, before he decided you had had enough time to adjust to his stretch and began to move.

Just as he did, the moans began to fall from your mouth, the pleasure beginning to build up in ways you forgot were possible. Every movement stretched your tight warmth out more and more, filling you up with such deliciousness that you couldn’t help but cry a stream of ‘Alex!”.

His breath started to become a bit shallower, and he reached out to palm at your tits while he thrust. It was like a teenager seeing them for the first time, but he had missed them so much. His fingers pinched at your nipples, his cock hit every nerve entrance in your vagina, and his mouth returned to yours to envelope you in a passionate fire. Every part of you felt hot, and every part of him felt hot. Just how it was supposed to be.

A pace was set after a minute; he was fast and hard because he needed this and he knew you did too. You knew he wouldn’t last too long out of the sheer intensity and desperation of it all.

As his grunts became louder and his movements faster, you brought your hand down to circle around your clit, the little movements causing a full-body shiver to run down and a stream of obscenities leaving your mouth. He grinned at this but didn’t move your hand; he’d usually help you out, but he was too preoccupied with your perfect tits. Every sense of yours was activated, and on full sensitivity, it was just too hot. Your vibrators couldn’t compare to him, and he realized then that your pussy had ruined every other girl for him. He spent months seeking pleasure, but you’re the only one he wanted.

It was the hottest feeling in the world when you felt his dick begin to twitch inside of you; the addition of this made everything just the hotter. You sped your hand movements up and your back arched slightly, your mouth falling open and your eyes turning white. You two were both close.

It was a sudden snap of the coil inside your stomach that had you cumming, practically exploding in bliss. It was an orgasm to an extreme you hadn’t had in a while, maybe since even before the breakup.

The feeling of you cumming just turned Alex on more, and he was soon to follow after, making one final thrust before he pulled out and covered your stomach in warm lines of milky cum. He stared at it for a second, finding it the most beautiful sight in the world, before collapsing next to you, catching his breath.

The two of you layed like that for a while, chests returning to normal speeds and minds trying to process what just happened. His cum was still on your stomach, but all you could think about was how you had just crossed a line you were never supposed to cross with an ex. As if he could sense this, he lifted his head up and wiped the cum off your stomach with his shirt from the floor. It was laundry day tomorrow anyway.

“That was... incredible. I missed you, baby.” He said, and his voice returned to a softness you only remembered from your most intimate moments.

“I missed you too.” You giggled a bit at his choice of cleaning material but smiled at his words, moving your body a little closer to his when he laid down again.

“Good. I want you to be my girl again.

“I want to be your girl again. We’ll figure this out in the morning, I guess.” You were both too fucked out to make logical, rational decisions.

“Yeah. We’ll get through this. I won’t be a twat again. I promise.” And then he pressed a gentle kiss on your forehead, almost like a silent promise that he wouldn’t. At the moment you trusted him, but maybe it was just the sex lingering in your brain. At that moment, what you knew was that the man you had loved for years was back next to you, and Rob from finance was someone you’d never have to worry about again.

A/N: this is shit again but i felt like putting something out. currently in the process of applying to transfer universities so i'm pretty out of time.

[starkwlkr]

i saw that you were going to see arctic monkeys and you're an f1 fan so would it be possible to combine those two?? like maybe a charles fic where the reader dated both alex and charles? also the concept of the alex writing all of his songs about the reader is my favorite maybe that could play into the story lol i hope you have fun at the concert!!

but i crumble completely | charles leclerc and alex turner

i am currently fighting for my life on my bed because I might either have the flu or covid and it sucks 😭 i babysit my nephew for my sister and she was the one who caught covid first so yeah <3 anyways arctic monkeys was amazing and the best experience ever!!

also the person who requested this messaged me and we both kinda changed it up a little so yeah <3 charles girlies, I’m so sorry 🥲

liked by selenagomez, devonleecarlson and 1,377,290 others

y/n.l/n i love red ❤️💋🌹❣️🍒💄

arcticmonkeygirly MA’AM??

arabellaslipstick WAIT HUH

ferraridepressionclub WAIT

leclercgirls so we won’t be seeing her in the paddock again? 😭 i love her outfits

mclarenistheproblem I’m more surprised that y/n smokes? this is news to me

shesthunderwhores i think she stopped smoking when she got with your car guy because when she was with alex she smoked soooo

verstappenwdc CAR GUY LMAOOOO

ruminebabyimyours WE HAD Y/N FIRST JUST SAYINGAND NOW SHES BACK SUCK IT (and see)

c25516 honestly the way f1 fans and charles fans treated y/n I’m glad she’s back with someone who actually loves her

yukismenu mf didn’t even defend his own gf when she was getting hate 🤨

liked by landonorris, mileskane and 947,747 others

y/n.l/n baby i’m yoursssss💋💋💋

joris__trouche miss you!

y/n.l/n love you j! whenever you’re free lmk singing and dancing is always better with youuu🫶🏼

ferrarigovroomvroom this is so iconic of them tbh

landonorris can i join?

danielricciardo and me

pierregasly and me

alex_albon and me

carlossainz55 who are we seeing?

[melanieph321]

Can you write one for Kenan and can you make it in two parts

P.s I hope you have a good day

I made it a three part baby, just for you ❤️

10 DAYS OF REQUESTS

(DAY 4)

Kenan Yildiz x Reader - Deal Breaker Part 1/3

PART 2 PART 3

Summary - Reader meets Kenan during dinner at house.

Enjoy! 🤭

The sun had gone down by the time your best friend Tati pulled her car up to your house. The lights were on in the dining room, meaning you were late for dinner.

"So, are you coming to the concert tonight or not?"

"Not, and that's my final answer."

"Oh, come on, Y/N. This is Arctic Monkeys we're talking about. We've had these tickets for months."

You shrugged in your seat. "Sell them. I don't care."

"You don't care?" Tati's eyelash extensions batted vigorously at you. "Does this have anything to do with the fact that Marco and his friends are also going to the concert?"

Your silence was evident.

"Oh, come on, Y/N. Marco is a piece of shit that broke your heart two weeks ago. It's time to move on, and you can do so by joining me to see Arctic Monkeys tonight."

"I don't know about you, Tati. But two weeks is a short time to mend a broken heart. I'm not going anywhere tonight, and that's final."

"Come on, Y/N."

You got out of the car despite Tati's protesting shouts.

"Don't make me go alone! How lame would that be."

"Sell my ticket!" You shouted over your shoulder. "Or better yet...." You snapped back around once you were halfway up the driveway. Tati was hanging out of the car window, the engine still running. "Just give it to someone else."

Your best friend did not look convinced. It was hard for her to get a hold of those tickets, and she'd be damned to give up on you without a fight. "The concert starts at midnight." She spoke softly. "I'll come by to pick you up at eleven. Be ready."

"Tati." You sighed hopelessly, watching her car speed off into the abyss.

You were really not in the mood, which made the remaining walk up the driveway a torture in itself. Once inside of the house, you were met with music playing throughout the chandelier lit villa.

"Honey, there you are!"

A pair of heels made their way out of the dining room and into the hallway where you stood. Your mother, dressed in an expensive dress with expensive jewelry to go with it, greated you with urgency. "Did the library change its closing hours? What took you so long?"

You shrugged out of her manicured hold of your face as she inspected it. She was devastated to see a shimmering nose ring still hooked into your left nostril, after you vaguely promised to remove it in time for dinner.

"It doesn't matter." Your mother waved dismissively. "I've laid out a dress for you to wear in your room and make sure to tie your hair up with that blue ribbon that I like." She leaned forward, sniffing you down with her nose. "Have you been smoking?"

"What? No mom."

"It's that friend of yours, isn't it?"

You rolled your eyes and headed for the stairs.

"I want you back down here in ten minutes!" She instructed. "This is a very important dinner for your father."

Weren't they all.

Once upstairs, you dipped into the bathroom for a quick shower. Your dad was having an important investor over for dinner tonight, and as always, he wanted all of the family members gathered to watch him work his magic. Or, in other words, watch a grown man kiss up to another grown man in hopes of receiving money for some lucrative real estate project.

You had attended a hundred of these dinners before and knew how to play your part well.

Your mother, whose job was to entertain the investors wife with talks of fashion, cooking, and other feminine occupations. She had gotten so good at this that it was almost impossible to tell whether it was all an act or not. Perhaps this was the exact reason why you feared becoming like her.

Your job was to simply entertain the investors' family members, their kids, usually your age or younger. You were supposed to find common interest like sports or music, seemingly to create an relaxed atmosphere around the table so that your dad and the investor wouldn't feel too guilty about engaging in talks of business amongst other dinner guests. This could only work if everyone played their part, your dad remind ever so often.

"There she is!" Your dad rose from the table as you entered the dining room, pampered and dressed up, ready to play your part. "A beauty, isn't she?"

"Beautiful indeed." The man sitting opposite your father nodded. He must be the investor, judging by his slick back hair and piercing gaze that seemed hard to shatter.

To the left of him sat a boy your age. He had previously been engaging in a vivid conversation with your mother, seeing as she had no one else to talk to. The investors hadn't brought his wife, just the boy, whose gaze lingered curiously on you as you took your seat around the table.

"You look lovely, honey, really." Your mother said, with that fake smile of hers. In reality, she was furious that your piercing was still attached to your nose. It's not that you forgot to take it out. However, doing so was just too painful. And seeing your mother flush with embarrassment for her only child was probably going to be your only entertainment for the night.

Or so you thought.

PART 2 PART 3

DON'T MISS - 10 DAYS OF REQUESTS

(DAY 1)

(DAY 2)

(DAY 3)

[blossoms-phan]

Do you ever think about casual Dan and Phil fans going to these shows and what they must think? I had not up until last night when I was beside a group of very enthusiastic but casual fans. One person had no knowledge of them whatsoever and just went with her friend group, and watching them watch that show was almost as entertaining as what was happening on stage.

thank you for reminding me of this anon this is genuinely such an entertaining thought that I kind of forgot about in the chaos of the first few shows? i always say this but it’s like obviously we’re going feral over every single little detail as people in this fandom space which is cool and all but it makes me think of like when I go to concerts and sometimes you have an image in mind of what a fan of a certain artist looks like but then you show up to like a 20k person venue and you’re like oh yeah i forgot dudes in their 60s can be a fan of the 1975 or arctic monkeys just bc they’re not screaming about it online?

that’s beside the point but i find the thought of casual/less online people who are just like oh yeah i like those guys let’s go see a live show! (bc people just love a good live stage show) come along friend who doesn’t know that much about them it’ll be fun! are going to be in the crowd of every single show just like statistically and I imagine it was incredibly entertaining watching their reaction to… All That

[bellaturner]

The Unexpected

Unusual fluff (?)

Summary: you went to an Arctic Monkeys concert as a distraction to your recent breakup, but ended up having an unexpected connection with Alex.

TW: breakups

3,6k words

Masterlist

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

I had just broken up with the man I thought was the love of my life. Nothing made sense anymore: the sky was permanently gray, the grass was dead beneath my feet, and the chirping of birds had become a melancholic tune. Life had lost its vibrancy, leaving behind a hollow emptiness.

We had been together for six years. To my twenty-four-year-old self, it felt like an eternity. But then, it all came crashing down. The signs were there, lingering in the shadows. Silently warning us of the inescapable end, but neither of us wanted to face the turmoil of ending a relationship that had lasted for so long.

However, as days turned into nights, we found ourselves tangled in neverending arguments. Even when we were together, I felt alone. The solitude became impossible to deal with, and we couldn't bear the weight of our shared life any longer. Honestly, I still struggle to pinpoint the moment where it all went wrong.

Despite everything, a part of me still cares for him. Perhaps that's why I made the difficult decision to sever our ties. I couldn't stand to hurt him any more than I was already doing by simply existing by his side. Each fight pushed him further away, and the thought of his fading presence tormented me.

Eventually, I reached my breaking point. Something had to change. So, with a heavy heart, I decided to officially end what had long been over. In that final moment, as we parted ways, not a single tear fell from his eyes, and that realization cut me deep. I had hoped to see a glimpse of emotion, a reminder of what we once had. But it became clear that I had been mistaken, painfully wrong about his feelings. The truth hit me hard and shattered me into countless pieces.

I felt utterly lost. There was no other way to put it. Waking up each morning became a burden, and I found myself hoping to die in my sleep. The days lacked any meaning. My friends were concerned, and my family shared the bruises of my heartache. After all, he had become part of our lives during those six long years.

But then, on that fateful day, everything changed.

It was my final semester of college, the moment when I was supposed to embrace my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer, fueled by my passion for motorsports. But now, it all seemed foolish and pointless. Every ambition had lost its spark.

In one of my last classes, vehicle electronics and control systems, tears started to melt my notebook pages, forcing me to leave early. I sat on a bench outside the building, next to the parking lot, gaining the courage to return home and confront my feelings again. There weren't any more pictures of us in my room, but the memories of moments shared in it were still there.

That's when Lana, one of my closest friends and an audio engineering major, found me.

"That's it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "I can't take this any longer, YN! I know you're hurting, but you have to move on. You ended things a month ago, but you said it yourself: it's been over for nearly a year!"

"But Lana—" I tried to interject, but she cut me off, refusing to listen.

"I've got backstage passes to a festival I'll be working on next week, and you're coming with me. No excuses. I don't care if I have to drag you by your hair." Her determination startled me, but I knew she was right. "Come on, YN! Pretty please?" she pleaded, putting on that irresistible lost dog face that I could never say no to. She even added the praying hands this time. There was no way I could escape her demands.

"Okay," I relented, sniffing and wiping away the tears from my cheeks. She had a point. I couldn't bury myself in this hole any longer. It was time to start crawling out of it.

"Yay!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down with joy. "That band you love so much is playing on Saturday! The Arctic something, you know?" she said casually.

"I beg your pardon?" I shot up from my seat, disbelief washing over me. "The freaking Arctic Monkeys are going to be playing, and I have a backstage pass?" It felt too incredible to be true. There was no way in hell something like that would happen to me—the unluckiest person in the world.

"Yup, that's the one. So you're going!?" she said happily.

"Of course I am. I had bought tickets to it long ago, but with everything that happened, I guess I kinda forgot about..."

"Hey, hey, stop it!" She cut me off once again. "You're not allowed to say his name or even think about him!" she protested. "I'll be working, though, but maybe that's a good thing. You could try to find some other monkey stan to hook up with!" she said with a mischievous smile.

Lana is unbelievably straightforward. But I think that's why I love her. My silly little girl. My best friend.

I chuckled at her suggestion, shaking my head in both amusement and disbelief. "You never fail to surprise me, Lana. Finding another 'monkey stan' " I scoffed "I just want to enjoy the music and forget about everything else. No more falling in love."

Lana nodded, her expression softening. "I get it, YN. This is your chance to have a great time." It was a statement, and I knew that she would make sure of that.

Her words resonated with me. Maybe this concert was exactly what I needed—an opportunity to let go of the past and rediscover my own happiness. I smiled at my friend, grateful for her support.

"Thank you, Lana. For being here. I appreciate you more than you know."

She grinned back at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I know, I know! I love you too, YN. Also, that's what friends are for".

With newfound determination and insane anticipation, we made plans for the festival. Lana shared more details about it and the lineup of incredible artists that would grace the stage on that weekend. But the thought of seeing the Arctic Monkeys perform live is what filled me with a mix of nervous excitement and sheer bliss.

Finally, the day of the concert had arrived, and I couldn't contain my excitement. I slipped into my favorite band t-shirt, a quirky image of the members dressed as clowns and the words "who the fuck's Arctic Monkeys?" boldly printed across it. With the backstage pass hanging proudly around my neck, I could feel the anticipation building up inside me.

Lana, being the amazing friend she was, had made sure everything was perfectly arranged for us. As we ventured backstage, the air buzzed with an electric energy that sent shivers down my spine. From my privileged viewpoint, I could see the massive crowd and the whole stage, just waiting for the Monkeys to take their places.

"Hey, listen," Lana said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and responsibility. "I have to go work now, but you stay here and have the time of your life, okay? Text me if you need anything or decide to explore elsewhere. I love you!" She planted a kiss on my head before disappearing into the backstage area.

Not long after she left, the stage lights illuminated the massive venue, and the band made their entrance from the opposite side I was at. The opening chords of the first song reverberated through the speakers, igniting a surge of excitement and cheers from the crowd. I surrendered myself to the music, letting it embrace me completely, like a warm blanket. The world around me faded away, leaving only the hypnotizing rhythm and the lyrics that resonated with my soul.

With tears streaming down my face, I allowed the familiar melodies to stir deep emotions within me. Each song evoked a different feeling, and I embraced every single one. I couldn't help but dance like there was no tomorrow, losing myself in the moment. The euphoria overwhelmed me, and it felt like I was floating on a cloud of pure bliss.

As the concert progressed, around the third song or so, I caught a glimpse of Alex looking in my general direction. My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly dismissed it as a mere coincidence. He was probably just checking out his surroundings or searching for someone from the production team. I decided to step to the side, not wanting to obstruct his view, and to my surprise his head turned with me as I moved over.

Our eyes briefly locked, and in that split second, I could feel my whole face burning up. Was he actually looking at me? It felt like a fever dream, the kind you never expect to come true. It was probably the effect of one too many unlimited drinks I had enjoyed, courtesy of my backstage access.

Whether it was a genuine look or a result of my tipsy imagination, I couldn't help but revel in the moment. The music enveloped me, drowning out any doubts or rational thoughts. I surrendered myself to the rhythm, dancing like an old lady, feeling the pure bliss of being swept away by the insane energy of the concert.

The combination of the music, the crowd's energy, and the enchanting presence of Alex on stage created an atmosphere that was nothing short of magical.

'Arabella' was the sixth song played that night, and I'll never forget it. As soon as I heard that familiar guitar at the beginning of the song, I could feel the excitement running through my veins. It is one of my all-time favorite songs, a track that holds a special place in my heart. I can't quite put into words what it makes me feel, but it is a mix of exhilaration, warmth, and an indescribable amazing sensation.

My legs turned to jelly, and I found myself leaning against a nearby wall for support as I watched in awe. The combination of Cookie's amazing guitar riffs, Matt's powerful drumming skills, and Nick's pulsating bass lines drove the crowd into a frenzy. The energy was palpable, radiating through every beat and note.

My attention was drawn to Matt and his extraordinary talent behind the drum kit. His precision and sheer passion were a sight to behold. As I focused on him, completely immersed in the music, that indescribable feeling of watching my favorite band perform live washed over me one more time.

And then, it happened again. When I shifted my gaze towards Alex, I found him looking straight at me. Our eyes locked in for the second time that night, making my cheeks flush. I was grateful for the dim lighting that hid my embarrassment.

As he sang, a smile formed on his lips, almost like he knew what he was doing: singing my favorite song and looking straight into my eyes. I felt like he was singing it just for me. It was a crazy moment, and it made me down the rest of my beer in one gulp. I swear he let out a soft chuckle, away from the microphone.

As the last verse sounded through the air, I knew I had to sing along with the crowd, my voice merging with the chorus. "That's magic! On a cheetah print coat!" The lyrics echoed around me, lighting up my face with a huge smile while the tear roamed free.

As the concert continued, there were a few more instances when my and Alex's eyes met, a fleeting connection in the midst of the electrifying atmosphere. But I brushed it off, convincing myself that it was just part of his stage presence, a way to engage with the audience.

But, as the final notes of the last song gradually faded into the air, signaling the end of an unforgettable night, I figured that Alex would follow his bandmates, disappearing into the same entrance he came from. To my surprise, he broke away from the rest of the guys, walking towards the side of the stage I was at.

His steps were purposeful and determined, making my heart race as he approached. The gap between us was closing quickly, and I tried to steady my trembling hands and calm my racing thoughts.

A rush of excitement and disbelief flooded me as he stood before me, and I was hit by the combination of wood, whisky, and tobacco scent that he emanated, leaving me momentarily speechless. His eyes sparkled with exhaustion and genuine appreciation.

"You sure look like you had a great time, love," he said with a husky voice, sending shivers down my spine. I couldn't help but let the butterflies fly around my stomach by the way he casually referred to me as 'love,' that charming British accent adding an extra layer of charm to his character.

I mustered a shy smile. His presence was magnetic and the whirlwind of emotions inside me made it difficult to speak.

His gaze traveled up and down my figure, a playful glimmer danced in Alex's eyes as he glanced at my t-shirt. "Your choice of attire is quite captivating," he said, letting out a laugh that made my cheeks flush. "Join me for a beer, will ya?" he asked, his tone more of a confident statement than a mere question, gesturing for me to follow him deeper into the backstage area.

"Al, mate, come join us!" Matt's voice carried excitement for the post-show celebration. "We're going out for-"

"Not tonight, man," Alex responded without even glancing in Matt's direction, his eyes fixed on mine, unyielding. "I think I'll just head back to the hotel. Thanks, though."

I stood there, stunned, as Alex brushed off his friend's invitation without a second thought, leaving me wondering if he had a different plan in mind. Matt shrugged and joined the rest of the band, while I remained rooted to the spot, my mind swirling.

"Well, it looks like I have some free time," Alex's eyes held a glimmer of curiosity and a hint of a smile danced on his lips. "How about we grab that beer we were talking 'bout?"

Excitement coursed through my body, and I nodded eagerly, unable to contain my smile. "Sounds great," I replied, my voice filled with faked confidence. "Lead the way."

As Alex led me through the backstage area, we entered a private room tucked away from the bustling crowd. The moment the door closed behind us, the noise dissipated, leaving behind a sense of tranquility. The room was dimly lit, adorned with vintage music posters and instruments that had an aura of creative energy.

Alex approached a small cooler, grabbing a couple of cold beers, and handing one to me. "Here you go," he said with a charming smile. "Make yourself at home, darlin'. I'm just gonna change real quick,"

"Thank you," I replied, accepting the beer gratefully. My heart raced, the British mannerisms swiping me off my feet again. I watched him disappear into the bathroom, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

As Alex left, I took a moment to take in the room. The instruments scattered across the space caught my attention, particularly the grand piano sitting in the corner. My fingers itched with the desire to touch the keys. It had been ages since I last played one.

Leaving my beer on a nearby table, I made my way to the piano bench. Sitting down with my back turned to the bathroom door, I ran my fingers gently over the smooth ivory keys, and began to play a familiar tune, allowing the notes to flow from my fingertips.

The sound filled the room, a gentle melody that mirrored my emotions. I closed my eyes, losing myself in the music, letting it carry me away from the moment. When I was younger, I used to say that the piano was my voice, expressing the emotions that my words couldn't capture.

The sound of footsteps made me snap back into reality. I swiftly rose from the bench, ready to apologize for my impromptu performance, but before any words could escape my lips, Alex interjected.

"Please, don't" Alex said, his voice laced with a hint of awe. He stood at a distance, his eyes fixed on me and his hands shoved into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. "That was beautiful. You have a gift."

"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice betraying any attempt at sounding nonchalant. "It's been a while since I've played."

He chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with playful charm. "Well, consider me a lucky man then."

A genuine smile spread across my face as I admired Alex's transformed appearance. He had tidied up his hair and changed into a sleek white collar dress shirt that accentuated his abs. His leather jacket added a touch of rebellious charm, and he was wearing that illegally sexy scarf of his.

"You look like a brand new person." I remarked, walking past him to retrieve my beer can.

He smirked, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "A change of clothes and a splash of cologne can work wonders, wouldn't you agree?" he replied, his voice dripping with playful modesty.

I smiled at him once again, feeling a sense of ease settling between us. Taking a sip from my beer can, I realized I hadn't properly introduced myself. "I'm YN, by the way," I said, trying to keep the conversation casual.

"It's a pleasure, YN. I'm Alex," he replied warmly, his voice inviting. I couldn't help but chuckle quietly, knowing exactly who the musical genius before me was.

"The pleasure is all mine," I responded, lifting my can in a toast. The clinking sound filled the air.

His gaze shifted towards the vinyl player nestled in the corner of the room, catching his attention. He walked over to it, selected a disc and delicately placed it on the turntable. The soft crackle of the needle meeting the vinyl filled the air, as the melodic tunes gracefully unfolded.

Returning his focus to me, his eyes sparkled with curiosity, a genuine interest shining through. "So, YN, what brings you here tonight?" he inquired, his voice carrying a gentle warmth.

I couldn't help but laugh at his question. "Aside from your amazing songs?" I replied playfully, my gaze meeting his. "Well, my friend is working backstage, and she managed to get me a ticket. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see you perform live."

He nodded, a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and then he extended his hand towards me, gently taking hold of my beer can and setting it aside.

"Will you dance with me, YN?" he asked, his voice turning my thoughts into a blissful haze, as my name rolled off his tongue.

My heart skipped a beat, and I eagerly placed my hand in his, feeling the warmth of his touch. "I'd be delighted," I replied, my voice had a hint of nervousness to it. "I must warn you, though, I'm not the best dancer."

He simply smiled, his touch steady yet gentle, as his other hand found its place on my waist, effortlessly guiding me across the dance floor. We moved in harmony, a mixture of playful twirls and gentle sways, surrendering ourselves to the embrace of the music.

The song came to an end, and as if on cue, Alex pulled me even closer, making me look at him. The room buzzed with energy. His hand, which had been resting on my waist, moved to the back of my head, gently tangling in my hair, sending a thrilling shiver down my spine.

My lips parted with a soft sigh, surrendering to the gentle tug he made on my hair. The reaction prompted Alex, as he leaned in, allowing our lips to touch in a delicate kiss.

His lips were soft and insistent, exploring every inch of my mouth. It felt like he was perfect.

The room was filled with the gentle white noise of the needle scratching the record, creating a soothing ambiance. But then my phone started buzzing in the background. We initially ignored it, lost in our passionate exchange, but after it rang three times, Alex broke the kiss.

"Maybe you should answer that, doll," he whispered, his fingers caressing my hair as he brought me back to reality.

"Hey, Lan," I said softly, my gaze locked into his dark brown eyes. He stared right back at me.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?" Lana's voice boomed through the phone, making me hold it away from my ear.

Alex burst into laughter, seemingly amused by the situation.

"I'm sorry, Lana. I got carried away," I explained.

"Oh, come on! Who's with you? I heard laughter," Lana teased, her voice adopting a playful tone. "Did you meet someone?"

"Oh, she definitely met someone," Alex interjected, his distinct accent making his words stand out.

"Is that-" Lana started to ask, but her question remained unfinished. It was an overwhelming experience for me.

"May I?" Alex asked, reaching for my phone, and I nodded.

"She's alright, Lana. She'll be with you shortly," he assured her before ending the call.

"One for the road?" he whispered, his fingers gently tracing my swollen lips.

I chuckled in response, and he leaned in, our lips meeting once again in a passionate embrace.

"Can I have your number?" he asked, his forehead resting against mine.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

This has been rotting in my drafts since May, I truly didn't know how to end it so I just left an open ending I guess.

I also experimented writing in first person, which I don't intend on doing anymore tbh but let me know if you liked it anyways.

I've been asked a couple times to tag people, so lmk if you'd like to be tagged on my next fic.

As always, love youuu 💕💕💕

~ Bella

[sanest-bsd-delegate]

Concert tickets

Headcanon: Where its you, them and the music taste. Ft Dazai, Chuuya, Tachihara and Lucy Masterlist Please look at the request rules in masterlist before requesting. Here is a lil headcanon for you (exams are shit, they decrease the writing creative power) bear with it AND THE GIF AM SORRY I CANT LMAO 😭

Dazai:

This man is 10/10 screaming the lyrics in the office.

Now he is a fan of Mitsiki too, but 'I wanna be yours' hits different.

Assuming your favorite band, he makes sure you least have a vintage case tape thingy even if it means Kunikida's bank account goes dead.

You both are broke babes,😭 cant even go to the concert.

But if you get to go into a concert, *cough* Kunikida's card *cough*, he makes sure you stay close to him

He 1000/10 gets lost in the concert, so pretty much you have to make sure his body aren't damaged. Twig like mf fr

WHY DO I IMAGINE HE MIGHT AS WELL AS CLIMB THE STAGE AND SING OUT-😭

If there are any fan meets, he makes sure you are with him cause there was this one time you beat him up just cause he didn't take you to a meetup. 💪💀 #saddazaicauseheisbroken

Dazai slays in the artist's t-shirts.

He secretly writes those artist x reader fanfiction on tumblr or smthg idk

I think he had a arctic monkey obsession phase.

It was a traumatic phase

I can feel like once you both only talked in I wanna be your lyrics, and oh boy the ADA was traumatized.

Once you refused to give him cuddles and bro really screams 505 lyrics.

He got a restraining order from the band when he sung at their concert.😭

The whole neighborhood got deaf by his singing.🤡

IMAGINE FIGHTING WITH PM AND THEN MF GOES LIKE "I go crazy 'cause here isn't where I wanna be" AND THE PM GOES WHO POSSESSED THIS MF NOW. (I need sleep)

Aww you love your boyfriend even when he is having broken bones and currently in hospital bed for going to a concert alone and getting crushed by sweaty people😭 <333

Chuuya:

"MILLANIUM KIDS THAT WANNA DIE" Bro might as well be a Dazai kinnie in music taste.

He had a Conan gray phase and still isn't over it.

Its a good thing you are his S/O.....YOU GET A FREE TICKET TO CONCERT WITH HIM.💪💀

can we appreciate this man? HE BUYS MERCHS FOR YOU <3333 WITHOUT STEALING OTHER'S MONEY UNLIKE SOME. 🤡

(well technically he steals their life so naturally the pay is for the life so he steals soul and money but he is a babygirl...he is forgiven.)

He has to use his gravity powers thingy. YOU BOTH ARE TO MUCH DEPRESSED IN THE CROWD.

"Woah, this place is just like my mind, messed up" "STFU Y/N 😭I AM TRYING TO BUY SOME MF TICKETS"

Awww he probably have you sit over his shoulder so that he can lowkey fly and you both can see the concert.

He cries if the song describes his life.🤠

Cause like one time you caught him listening to Mitski and he was crying. YKW YOU HUGGED HIM AND KISSED HIM CAUSE NO ONE LIKES A CRYING CHUUYA (maybe in bed thats different)

PLEASE I CAN IMAGINE THAT WE FORCE THIS MF

INTO

SINGING

LEVITATING

WHILE FLYING 😭

"I wish he levitates away forever, his singing makes my ear bleed" *Dazai proceeds to levitate to ADA hospital bed*

Chuuya supremacy

Tachihara:

Who knew this man got a music taste?

The same music taste as yours.

213420/10 the best music taste duo.

YOU CAUGHT THIS MAN RED HANDED LISTENING TO CPR. 🤡

His personality will be screaming Daddy Issues 😭

You still are suspicious how he got the concert tickets that too for TWO PEOPLE 💀

He will be those people who either will scream lyrics in someone's phone while they are recording or will those privileged people who get recognized by the band.

Why can I imagine him saying that the concert sucks?

YADADA YOU STILL DRAG HIM ANYWAYS.😭

*insert him doing funky dance on new rules by Dua Lipa*

Lowkey feels he listens to Spanish songs.

Imagine being along in room with this mf and he starts to sings Die for you??? While he spins you around dancing and laughing????

#blessed.

STFU. He had a Alan walker phase. No ifs and buts.🤡

Awww he brought your favorite artist's merch......WHERE IS THE HIDDEN MONEY BOY.

(Ill vibe with him on song 'this december')

EXTRA BUT HIM SINGING TELEPATH?? MY HEART CANT-😭

He brought a spotify premium for both of you <33 TAKE THAT ADS. 😭

Lucy:

She gives me girl in red vibes.

Pretty sure she is embarrassed to admit her music taste.

SHE IS THE REASON YOU LISTEN TO AMERICAN MUSIC ATM IDC.

You both will be sneaking in the concert using her ability.

LIKE FOR FREE??🎉🤠

You suggested that you should just have the door half ass open cause the crowd is just to much crowdy.🤡

She dragged you to follow her.

HELP SHE GOT CALLED ON THE STAGE TO SING WITH THE ARTIST. 10/10 she sings well.

Her music taste really is various but we love it.

She lowkey thinks you don't know she had a Justin Bieber phase, but you aren't confessing, it will hurt her ego.😭

You both watch those 2 hr concert video uploaded on Youtube (bless those uploaders)

"Y/N we can very well visit the concert venue you know?"

WAIT TILL THE COPS REALISE THAT💪💀

Awww look at you, just you both making Spotify playlist for each other.

"F-R-I-E-N-D-S" "Y/N please, you are acting worse then when you are drunk😭" "🤡 Haven't I made it obvious"

You brought her a little marshmallow keychain.

So like Atsushi accidently entered you both jamming to your favorites of all time and ummmm it left a traumatic picture in his mind that day. (Dw its just both of you jamming to much hard and the room is trashed out <3🤠

Fun fact: I was really confused on who to pick and wrote Tachihara thinking the poll cant change in 30 mins. (P.s it did and Lucy won)🤠 Fun Fact pt 2 : Requests are getting proceeded, stop spamming asking when they are finished 🤠 dw, am up for y'all love and appreciations and Ideas

[nicoscheer]

Miles Kane, What It's Like to Play as a 'One Man Band'

We met Miles Kane as a founding member of important bands such as the Last Shadow Puppets with Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and the Rascals. In the last several years, the Liverpudlian has been on a solitary path, as the name of his recent release suggests. We spoke with him shortly before his long-awaited return to Athens, at "Arch Club", on Friday 5/17.

How has your tour been going so far?

The concerts so far are incredible. I'm excited to play by myself, so I'm very happy. I think people are relating and connecting with the songs on my new record and it's taking me to places I haven't seen in a long time. And Greece is one of those places.

Can you tell us a few words about how you wrote "One Man Band", your most chart-topping album to date?

The album was created in Liverpool. We worked on it with my cousin James Skelly, who used to be a member of The Coral. We went back home and that gave birth to the desire to make a completely straight album. Writing songs is what I do best, not thinking too much, just talking about my feelings, my worries and how I want to be better. I guess life in general is what "One Man Band" is all about, stomping on some rock'n'roll, surf music. We had a clear idea of ​​what the album and its sound should be and we followed it to the end. This is also the reason why it is my favorite work of all that I have released so far. I feel very proud!

You started a great career by participating in various bands, such as Last Shadow Puppets. What motivated you to follow a more solitary path in recent years?

I've been doing solo stuff since I was 22 and I'm 38 now. I learned so much from the bands I was in, the Rascals and the Little Flames. Being on my own and free to work with whoever I want and do whatever I want – even if it sounds selfish – I think suits me best.

And what's the biggest lesson you've learned from playing as a "One Man Band"?

Not playing with a band is completely different for me. It's a huge challenge and not many could pull it off to be honest. It has made me improve my performance as a guitarist, as a singer and as a performer.

What is the most important experience from this journey?

It may sound cliche but I really had a lot of good times in my career. But I feel that who I am today as a person in life and on stage gives me new meaning and life. At all these smaller concerts where I meet new fans, I realize that the younger generation brings a whole different energy to it all. I feel that the phase I am in now is the happiest of my life. I feel more connected and hope to stay on this "path".

Are you excited to be back in Athens ("Arch Club", 5/17)?

Yes! I think I can't remember the last time I visited Greece because it's been so many years. I hope people come because I plan to give you the best night of your life.

What constitutes a successful live?

A great outfit, some "golden" dance moves and an audience! I need to feel like people want to be involved as much as I want to be. This is the only way we can go to the next level.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm trying to write something new and prepare a new album, but I'm having a hard time doing it right now. I don't want to stop the flow of things. I'm quite a simple person and I know what I like in life... Music. Maybe next year I'll be ready for a new release.

Is there another side project in the works?

We're not working on anything with Alex. [Turner], like Last Shadow Puppets. But I have this new little side project going on called The Evils and it's an instrumental surf idea. We'll see how this goes... [s.s. In the time between the interview and its publication, Kane along with Oscar Sholto Robertson and Dave Bardon released the E.P. "Miles Kane & The Evils".]

Miles Kane's albums in his own words

"Colour of the Trap" (2011)

"The beginning of the adventure, when I was still searching for who I am. This album opened the way for me. You can hear all the different sides of me in it."

"Don't Forget Who You Are" (2013)

"Probably one of the best songs I've ever written [inc. the title]. Something keeps me coming back to it. It's like coming home to the roots for me. Sometimes in life you can get sidetracked and forget who you are. This song defined me as an artist and as a person."

"Coup de Grace" (2018)

"An intense rock'n'roll, punk period! Coming out with such an aggressive album is not as easy as you think."

"Change the Show" (2022)

"My chance to show my love for Northern Soul and Motown...Growing up I listened to everything from Diana Ross and the Four Tops to whatever was on the radio."

-

Full Greek article

[littlemissthunderstorms]

infatuated

alex turner x reader

enemies to lovers one shot! again, i dunno how to summarize it so just read and find out i suppose LOL (also kinda angsty)

———

you fiddled around with the piano, playing a few notes before sighing. you’d been in the studio for hours, only being able to come up with a few good rhythms. groaning in frustration you sat up, walking over to the window to clear your mind a bit. you ran a hand through your hair and gazed out the window. oh god. of course. a group of girls huddled outside of the studio, clearly here for alex.

you rolled your eyes. you’d known the guy for years and if they knew him the way you did, they surely wouldn’t be out there. alex hated you and the feelings were mutual. unfortunately, you’d seen a lot of each other the past five years. whether it be at parties, record label meetings, or even concerts, you two were always bickering. you’d been at a strokes concert a few months ago with a group of your friends and of course, alex was there, making an effort to find you and give you a snarky comment. he thought he was so cool with his stupid hair and his stupid sunglasses and his stupid accent and his stupid jokes. you hated it all.

but most of all you hated what he did to you. the year was 2013, you were throwing a party for your first album release, you were so excited. you’d invited tons of people and decorated your whole house. you’d spent hours hanging up fairy lights and paper stars. you couldn’t wait to celebrate your first album with everyone, it was a huge achievement. that same night, alex decided to throw a huge party to celebrate the success of the most recent arctic monkeys album, AM. so when it came time for people to show up to your party, almost nobody did. apparently everybody and their mother were too busy getting shit faced at alex’s, and you were heartbroken. your album still did well, but you were still destroyed over the fact that he ruined your perfect night.

so when you saw alex and miles pull up into the parking lot, probably to work on their new album, your heart wrenched, remembering the tears streaming down your face as you took all those fairylights and stars off of the wall. alex got out, acting all cool, taking pictures with a few fangirls and then strutting in alongside miles like he owned the place. safe to say it earned a few eye rolls from you. miles you could stand, he was a fairly nice guy. but alex on the other hand, not so much. so you’d stayed in your respective studio, trying to avoid him at all costs.

———

later on, you finished up your recording for the day and headed out. the sky was dark and inky as rain hit the pavement at a steady pace, the moon seeming darker this particular night. the fangirls were gone, you assumed alex came out to blow kisses to them during lunch or some stupid shit. you crossed your arms, snuggling into your jacket as a soft gust of wind blew shivery raindrops your way. when you got to your car, you noticed the parking lot was empty. well. almost empty. alex’s cadillac sat in the far corner of the lot, looking almost mysterious in the dark.

you ran a hand through your damp hair as you twisted the keys in the ignition of your ford cortina. nothing. what the fuck? you’d filled up your gas tank earlier that morning, and you were positive the battery was fine. groaning, you tried the ignition again and again. nothing. again. you sighed, about to reach for your phone to call a friend to pick you up when a knock at your window startled you, making you jump.

you squinted, raindrops fogging up the window, making it hard to see who the figure was on the other side. you rolled down the window and there he was. alex fucking turner in all his glory. his messy hair was damp and disheveled, a few strands dangling into his eyes. his white button up was slick with rainwater, sticking to his skin, showing off his toned biceps. to any other women, this would be a dream come true. but to you, it was a nightmare. you wanted nothing more than to go home and snuggle up with your cat and watch a movie in your cozy, dry pajamas but instead you were stranded in a dark, creepy parking lot and the guy you loathed was at your window. you looked up at him, a look of confusion and annoyance on your face.

“is everything okay?” he half shouted, trying to talk over the rain that was now pouring down much harder. “why do you care?” you licked your lips, confused. “i saw you struggling with your car. you’ve been in there for a while.” rain continued to pour, drenching him but he didn’t seem to care. “my car isn’t working. i don’t know whats up with it but you can leave, i’m fine. i’ll just call a friend to come get me or something.” you replied. “y/n. it’s getting late and the traffic is crazy. it would take someone an hour to get here and pick you up. you don’t want to be alone in this part of town late at night, trust me. let me give you a ride.” you sighed, staring back at the boy, thinking. as much as you didn’t want to be in a car with alex, getting murdered in a parking lot didn’t sound fun at the moment so you reluctantly agreed. “whatever man.”

———

alex’s car was dry, warm, and smelled like him. it was a nice shelter from the rain and as much as you disliked him, you were grateful for his kindness. you shivered as alex started the car, quickly moving to turn the seat warmers on. “thanks.” you muttered, crossing your arms to your chest for warmth. alex shifted his gaze to the road, avoiding eye contact. “no problem.”

———

the majority of the car ride was silent, the hum of the engine and the low volume of the radio playing old jazz songs the only thing you could hear. rain still pattered on the window as alex stopped behind a long line of cars, illuminations of red and orange car lights danced across your face. “shit. see. traffic.” alex muttered. you checked the time on the dashboard. 11:58, almost midnight. you just wanted to go home and go to sleep. “might take a while to get ya’ home.” alex looked over at you, reading your mind. you nodded in response, keeping your eyes fixated ahead of you as you leaned your head against the window. “you alright?” alex titled his head slightly, one hand glued to the steering wheel, still looking at you. “mhm.” you mumbled, still avoiding his gaze, staring at the road in annoyance.

alex didn’t seem convinced. he sighed and ran a hand through his now almost dry, disheveled hair as he looked back at the road, crossing his arms. the long line of cars wasn’t moving anytime soon. “did i do something to make you mad?” you shrugged, staring at the license plate of the car in front of you. “cmon, look at me.” he turned in his seat, almost fully facing you. annoyed, you turned your head, eyes meeting his. “i don’t get why you hate me so much.” he was determined to get you to answer him, dark brown eyes not leaving yours. you sighed. “you really don’t know?” you turned your body towards him, resting your side against the seat. he looked back at you, confused.

“it was your stupid party.” you sighed. “what?” he furrowed his eyebrows. you bit your lip, sad memories haunting you. “2013. that party you had to celebrate the success of your album.” his face lit up as he nodded. “ooh yeah. what about it?” he was so ignorant, so clueless and it hurt.

“that was the night my album release party was supposed to happen.” tears pricked your eyes, threatening to trickle down your cheeks but you looked away quickly and blinked, getting rid of them. “i- i was so excited. i decorated my whole house and everything.” you looked over at him to find him looking back at you, concern flooding his features. “um” you swallowed. “long story short nobody really showed up. i never got to celebrate my first ever album release. it was really important to me, i worked so hard on that album.” you looked away from him, fixating on the rain that formed puddles on the road. “apparently everyone was at your party and they couldn’t give a shit about mine.” your voice broke as a tear fell down your face. “i’m sorry. that sounded selfish.” you sniffled.

you looked over at alex to find him looking back at you with soft brown eyes, a frown plastered across his face. “i- i don’t know what to say. i’m so sorry.” he sighed, studying your face. “it’s not selfish either.” he looked at you like he was truly sorry. he looked away, thinking to himself for a moment before smiling softly and looking back at you.“can i tell you something?” you nodded, confused. alex looked away and grinned to himself. “i was so infatuated with you at the time.” your eyebrows raised and your heartbeat quickened. what was he saying? “what?” he looked over at you, eyes wide and he nodded. “seriously. i remember being fucking bored out of my mind at parties, hoping you would be there.”

your eyebrows twisted in confusion. “so you were basically obsessed with tormenting me. great.” you huffed and leaned back in your seat, crossing your arms. alex looked over at you with a smile. “not at all, i mean sort of. honest to god i thought ya’ were drop dead gorgeous. i was just tryna flirt, i guess.” you met his gaze and burst out laughing as he smiled down at you, chuckling. “seriously?” you blurted. “you’re such an idiot turner! this whole time i thought you hated my guts and you’re telling me you liked me?” you wiped away tears from your eyes from laughing so hard. alex laughed along with you. “yep. i suppose.” he grinned at you and you wondered if this was the first time he’d ever genuinely smiled at you.

you sighed, staring back at the long, unmoving line of traffic. still grinning. you thought for a moment, processing everything alex said. you blushed as you recalled him calling you “drop dead gorgeous.” you turned to look at him, finding him already looking at you, which made your heart skip a beat. “drop dead gorgeous huh?” he nodded, giving you a knowing smile.

you thought for a moment, remembering how just a little over a month ago alex had came over to you at a party your friend was throwing. the party was loud, so he had to lean in close to talk to you. he bothered you the whole party, teasing and joking with you like he was trying to flirt.

your eyes widened in realization. “alex?” he smiled back at you. “yeah?” you bit the inside of your cheek. “any chance you’re still infatuated with me?” he grinned from ear to ear.

“i was waiting for you to catch on.”

———

RAAAAAHHH I HOPE U LIKEEE

this is a long one for sure but one of my favs!! i love enemies to lovers tropes with 1/3 of my heart (the other 2/3 is reserved for friends to lovers my all time fav)

goodnight sleep tight!

[rosypenguins]

Day 19! Music Club Headcanons! (Music Edition!)

I’ve already shared most of my Music Club headcanons, so I’ll be keeping this post pretty simple. Just kinda want to share my thoughts regarding their music tastes, because why not?

🩵Hailey mostly listens to country music. Woman’s country specifically. Like, the songs about killing your exes for cheating. If it weren’t for her kindness and strong moral code, she probably would’ve slashed Drew’s tires and bashed in his windshield to one of these songs by now. He may not be an ex, but she hates him all the same.

💜Zander mostly listens to stuff from the 80’s and 90’s. Pop music specifically. He’s one of those people who claims music is getting worse, and hates about 90% of modern artists. (TikTok would be his worst nightmare.) But I do imagine he’d really like Conan Gray. He’s definitely cried to several of his songs. (Also Luke definitely got him tickets to one of his concerts and he cried for like a solid 5 minutes.)

🧡Luke doesn’t really have much of a music preference. He’ll enjoy whatever anyone else is listening to. But on his own, he’d probably listen to a lot of classic rock. (Like something someone’s dad would listen to.) (Also I could totally see him listening to Arctic Monkeys.)

🩷Milly would mostly listen to punk-rock and metal music. Something she can blast late at night. (I have so many artists I think she’d listen to but that’ll take too long to list lol.) Most of these songs are either about how much the government sucks or how much life in general sucks.

💙Similar to Jake, Sean will listen to just about anything. However, instead of having all his songs in one playlists, he’s created countless, all with very specific vibes. (And he definitely has a shared playlist with each member of the Music Club.) His only ‘disorganized’ playlists are his recent faves list, and his vent list. Anyways, despite being down to listen to anything, I feel like he leans more towards EDM. Or anything loud. Anything to drown out his thoughts. (I refuse to stop with the Sean angst headcanons.)

🖤Bonus! I feel like one of the only artists the Jomies (including Zoey and Lia) can agree on is Kesha. I could totally see Drew driving them all somewhere with Joyride blasting out the speakers. Everyone except Drew’s singing along and Drew’s this close to driving the car off a cliff. (Not actually though he loves these idiots.)

@31days-of-freakblr

[ovwechoes]

DPS Girls & Concert Headcanons!

It's finally arrived; each of the OVW DPS girls have plans to attend a concert, but who would they each go see? These are my personal headcanons (SFW)!

It's somewhat long so it's under the cut - enjoy and let me know any thoughts you have c:

Elizabeth Caledonia "Calamity" / Ashe: Ashe is the type of girl who would do anything and drop however much she could to see Ella Langley, Riley Green, and Johnny Cash tribute acts. She loves the idea of cowboys and the wild west, and loves country music alongside it. Neil Young is another she appreciates and would do anything to see as well, for the nostalgia of course.

Echo: Echo's not the type to fixate on music, and enjoys vicariously through concert videos online. However, if she was to go see someone, it would be an artist who she knows the people she's going with enjoy as well. She values the importance of music, but there isn't a specific artist I can imagine her being into enough to go see them live.

Mei-Ling Zhou / Mei: Mei's mostly interested in classical music; it helps her to focus as background noise or relax when she's had a stressful week. I can imagine she'd go to concerts in opera halls for classical music iterations and sit there, silently enjoying herself. However, I think she'd pay to see artists such as Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, and other indie folk musicians. Indie folk is one of those guilty pleasures that helps her focus in the same ways as classical but has substance beyond instruments. She values it and would enjoy herself (as long as she had someone to come with her ofc).

Fareeha Amari / Pharah: She'll tell you if the conversation ever came up that she would pay anything to go back in time and see Queen live. She absolutely adores them, but tribute acts to her never do them justice. That's who I think Pharah would go to see if she could live. However, Fareeha also loves classic rock as a genre and would do anything to see AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, etc. She would go solo or with other people, she's not too bothered and she knows how to protect herself if anything happened. All she's interested in is hearing the music through her feet and enjoying it live, seeing everyone around her and embracing the rock culture.

Vivian Chase / Sojourn: Sojourn's a fan of classical jazz; she loves to sit with a whiskey on the rocks, in a dingy bar and enjoy the music so she doesn't tend to go to concerts as much as she used to. However, when she was younger and in Overwatch as it's lead commander, she used to always make an effort to try and see alternative rock artists like Imagine Dragons, Arctic Monkeys, and The Strokes. Whenever she listens to them now, she gets thrown into the past and wouldn't refuse a ticket to see them for old time's sake.

Olivia Colomar / Sombra: She definitely enjoys EDM and goes to raves moreso than concerts; she enjoys club culture and has been known to indulge in everything about them. She was first exposed to The Prodigy, and her love for EDM kept growing from there. The Prodigy, Deadmau5 and Skrillex would be the ones I could see her wanting to see the most live at a rave.

Satya Vaswani / Symmetra: We know that Symmetra has a more eclectic side with her sashay emote, so one of the most obvious things I could think of her enjoying would be drag brunches moreso than a concert. She would love the feeling of the music through your body, the dancing, the interactions happening in front of her. I think she'd enjoy night performances in concert halls as well, especially with strobe lights and voguing; it would be autism heaven for her. However, I think she appreciates modern classical music that helps her unwind and relax, especially if she's overwhelmed or overstimulated with the work that she's trying to complete at tht moment. Artists such as RuPaul, Philip Glass, and Tycho would definitely be on her radar though (if she decided to go to a concert).

Lena Oxton / Tracer: Tracer's got a very upbeat attitude, and it seems very likely she would enjoy pop artists, especially if she's struggling with things mentally or with guilt. It helps distract her, so she would definitely agree to see artists such as Chappel Roan, Lady Gaga, and Charli XCX. She enjoys being able to dance in the crowd to their music, screaming her heart out with whoever she's with or with total strangers. Alternatively, she used to heavily enjoy pop-rock artists such as Paramore, and would make an effort to see them when she could. It's still close to her heart, so I don't think she'd decline seeing them live still.

Amelie Lacroix / Widowmaker: Widow's a fan of classical ballet music; it reminds her of a time she was herself, and it brings back the emotions she once felt to some degree. She would pay anything to see them performed live by an orchestra, or even during a ballet, just to be able to feel like a normal woman again. Widow would never decline to a concert that features music from the artists such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Felix Mendelssohn.

I'll be making a version with the overwatch DPS males next! Any thoughts or opinions about these are always accepted, and my asks are open to any and all requests <3

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson makes history by appearing before more than 70,000 people in CDMX

Mateo Pinzón | June 2, 2024

On June 1, Louis Tomlinson, former vocalist of the iconic band One Direction, performed at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, consolidating a transcendental moment in his career as a soloist. Before an audience of more than 70,000 people, Tomlinson offered a show full of energy, emotion and nostalgia.

The concert began with the powerful song “The Greatest,” setting the tone for the night with its vibrant energy. The enthusiastic attendees welcomed Tomlinson with cheers and applause, creating an electrifying atmosphere from the first moment.

Throughout the night, Louis Tomlinson took fans on a musical journey that encompassed both his solo material and One Direction hits. One of the most emotional moments was when he performed “Night Changes,” transporting those present to the golden days of the famous boy band. Nostalgia took over the venue as the voices of thousands of fans joined together to sing in unison.

A highlight of the concert was Tomlinson's tribute to the Arctic Monkeys with his performance of the “505” cover. This version demonstrated not only his versatility as an artist, but also his ability to honor the bands that have influenced his musical career.

In a significant moment of the show, Tomlinson took time to thank his Mexican audience with sincere words:

“I don't care if you're not here tonight, I don't care if you've never been on the tour, if you support me, I love you. So thank you, thank you, thank you.”

This gesture was received with an enormous wave of affection and gratitude from fans, further strengthening the bond between the artist and his audience.

The concert closed with “Silver Tongues,” leaving the crowd in a state of euphoria. However, before this electrifying finale, Tomlinson gave his fans one last dose of nostalgia with “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”, another gem from his time in One Direction.

Louis Tomlinson will continue his tour of Mexico with upcoming performances in Querétaro and Guadalajara. Additionally, on June 8, he will hold his own festival, “The Away From Home Festival,” at Hacienda Susulá, located in Mérida, Yucatán, with the participation of artists such as Kevin Kaarl and Dylan, among others.

[jokeroutsubs]

Joker Out ‘Live From Arena Stožice’ - A triumph of unquestionable talent, youthful enthusiasm and dedicated work

ORIGINAL INTERVIEW BY ILKO ČULIĆ FOR RAVNO DO DNA, PUBLISHED ON 08.01.2024 ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY @moonlvster, PROOFREAD BY IG @GBOLEYN123

“Aha, that Slovenian band from Eurovision. Cute guys, but their music is for kids.” Nearly every attempt at explaining the quickly growing phenomenon Joker Out to those older and less informed gets stuck on this kind of reaction.

After the concert album “Live from Arena Stožice”, published by Virgin Records, and a rockumentary of the same name, directed by Mark Pirc, everything will be much clearer and hopefully there won’t be anyone who needs convincing that this Slovenian five-piece have emerged as the most exciting young pop rock band in the wider region, for now maybe even the only ones of their generation capacitated for the biggest venues in the post-Yugoslav area. This is a complete 90-minute recording of their triumphant concert in Ljubljana with 12,000 backing vocals and the right material for a major label deal, which nobody from these parts has been able to do in such a short period.

Yes, of course, Joker Out makes music for kids, or more precisely music for girls, as they always make up a majority of their audience. Photo and video documentation obtained from Stožice doesn’t differ from what was recorded a few weeks later at the Zagreb concerts in Tvornica Kulture, where the only older faces in the crowd were the security guards, accredited reporters and some caring mothers who didn’t want to leave their darling alone in the crowd under any circumstance.

Everything that happens with this band looks like an endless highschool party fueled by high-spirited youthful rock. However, the fact that Joker Out’s music is magnetically attractive to only girls isn’t a handicap, but a huge initial advantage, both in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade, as well as London and Manchester. The mass teenage hysteria once similarly helped Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, the early Beatles and T.Rex, and more recently Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys, with whom rock was briefly youthful again.

On home turf, the famous new wave became quite an important factor of pop culture when it won over a highschool aged audience, and became an exceptionally profitable discographic investment when in big cities it reached even the upper classes in elementary school. In later stages, due to the unlucky combination of unfortunate demographic and discographic processes, we ran out of young bands as well as the youngest audience. Since there were no adequate regional responses to Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys, a defeatist way of thinking prevailed in the rock world, saying that new generations are generally uninterested in bands with guitars.

Joker Out sprinted into that empty space and simply smashed it. Eurovision was the launching pad for their international career, but the foundation for a sold out Stožice Arena was built two years prior when the band filled Cvetličarna, a venue with a capacity of up to 2000 people, with their debut album ‘Umazane misli’. In terms of the Slovenian rock scene those were already big numbers and irrefutable proof that the winners of Špil Liga in 2016 became serious players in the meantime.

After a phenomenally successful regional and European tour it was Arena Stožice’s turn, so by October Bojan Cvjetićanin, Jure Maček, Kris Guštin, Jan Peteh and Nace Jordan had the required number of played matches and enough confidence in them to transfer all of their current published songs to a concert album, meaning 23 songs in total. So, that includes the complete material from the ‘Umazane misli’ and ‘Demoni’ studio albums, two last years hits,’Carpe Diem’ and ‘Sunny Side of London’, as well as their first song back from their highschool days, ‘Kot srce, ki kri poganja’. When planning some kind of festival gig, they could make a selection and pick out their hits, but at an ambitiously planned 90-minute solo performance they had to play all they have and be very careful not to make a mistake in the song setlist.

For a furious opening, effectively complimented by the guest brass players, the chosen song was their recent single ‘Sunny Side of London’, the only song performed in English. Live it sounds like a final confirmation that Joker Out is an international band and like an excellent announcement for their upcoming spring European tour. The next song is ‘Gola’, the first out of many old favourites and the ultimate Slovenian teenager hit, which started a rarely seen euphoria in the audience.

After that the whole arena thunderously sings along with Bojan to ‘Bele sanje’, ‘Plastika’ and ‘Dopamin’ and ‘Demoni’, and the accumulated energy is just transferred from one song to the next without any oscillation. In the middle part of the concert, however, you can feel that Joker Out’s repertoire lacks a few more punchy songs. At least the fans won’t mind that at all, because with a flashback to their debut song ‘Kot srce, ki kri poganja’ they got an exclusive opportunity to watch and listen to the ex rhythm section with the drummer Matic Kovačič and bassist Martin Jurkovič. Less impressive are the extended versions of ‘Metulji’ and ‘Vem da greš’, where the compact three-minute forms from the first album are extended with guitar solos and stretched out into the too long six-minute versions. The ending of the concert, in which ‘Tokio’, ‘Umazane misli’, their new concert single ‘Ne bi smel’, generational anthem ‘Novi val’ and their biggest hit ‘Carpe Diem’ were incorporated, was performed flawlessly. Joker Out is at the level of the assignment, and ‘Live from Arena Stožice’ is the most complete edition. This concert album represents a triumph of unquestionable talent, youthful enthusiasm and dedicated work, but there’s something else at play.

Fifteen years ago the run-down Kino Šiška, a former iconic meeting place for punks of Ljubljana, was thoroughly remodelled and turned into the city's alternative culture institute. Ten years ago Kino Šiška announced a competition for highschool bands and started Špil Liga, regularly funded by the city. In the third season, Joker Out won Špil Liga. Today, Ljubljana has a band that it can proudly send to every European metropole. Their concert in Helsinki sold out three months in advance. That’s not crazy luck, but a smart cultural strategy.

Rating: 8/10

[sophaeros]

julian casablancas for mojo magazine, november 2024 / issue 372 (x x)

Rock'n'roll Confidential: Julian Casablancas

The Strokes/Voidz mainman talks entitlement, respect and Arctic Monkeys

3AM (Pacific Coast Time) is an atypical hour to schedule an interview. But here's Julian Casablancas, zooming from Los Angeles, where the singer, for so long synonymous with the grit and glamour of New York City, has lived since 2020. He's a busy man: as well as fronting long-running garage rock classicists The Strokes - whose sixth album The New Abnormal won a Grammy in 2020 - he's found a refuge of sorts in his experimental, '80s synths-enabled group The Voidz, whose new LP Like All Before You is imminent. Talking to MOJO, Casablancas remains in shadow, his eyes occasionally reflecting dim light. "I can be a vampire," he promises. "You want a real rock star, bro? But I can be flexible and go into family mode too…"

What are you doing up at 3am, talking to MOJO? It's about the only time I have free. The rest of the time, it's videos and working with managers, going to concerts, social things… so l go all the way around, to crazy night hours.

The new album starts with Overture and ends with Walk Off - is there a concept lurking within? I guess a little. Maybe subconsciously. It hopefully hits if you have taken mushrooms. I had just watched Gone With The Wind, and they used to have overtures at the beginning of movies, and then we end the album with a synthesizer version. But it is not a rock opera story. If anything, the concept was going to be a one-word album title. At first, it was Zeal, then Perseverance.

How do you switch mindsets between Voidz and Strokes songwriting? Voidz songs are where my mind has been pushing me, and where I want to go, and where I am. But the ability or capability or muscle memory of writing Strokes-sequel stuff is just always going to be there. When those songs appear, it makes more sense to put them in each category, but it's not always that clear. But there's more 'no-limits' with The Voidz.

You recently said, "My current solution is to tour with The Strokes and then use the money to record with The Voidz." How did that happen? Years of drama and betrayals and horseshit (laughs). Honestly, l am cool with most of the dudes, and now we're more mature. It's not what I set out to do, but it's a fun, cool day job that I feel blessed to have. But let's just say I was only in a band called Zog, and whatever I worked on 10 years ago in Zog, I would not be interested in any more, I'm only interested in what I'm working on now. It's just the nature of music and creativity, you know?

What did you set out to do with The Strokes? I just wanted to challenge boundaries, and to have an ambitious collective of respectful teammates. Is that The Voidz? For me, yes.

The cliché about Strokes issues is that you were rich kids who weren't hungry enough. Any truth in that? Success affects people in different ways. I'd say there are some elements, probably from me as well, where you can be entitled… all kinds of bands have fallings outs and drama. It wasn't like, Oh, we don't need the money. I think it did take a lot of hunger to get there, but then after you've achieved something, when everyone is kissing each individual member's ass… OK, let's get back to work and do it again. It was like, Uh, no thanks. That's my assessment.

The Arctic Monkeys song Star Treatment starts out, "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes." What was your reaction? I thought, Be careful what you wish for. It was funny, and flattering. I have a lot of respect for Alex and those boys.

Tell us something you've never told an interviewer before. I've been trying to communicate with crows lately. I heard they have an intricate sonic language, but I haven't had any luck. It occurred to me that food would help, so I was trying to feed one M&M's earlier, but he wasn't having it. People can catch me making weird noises, trying to mimic the crow. I think the crows are more startled than the humans.

As told to Martin Aston

JULIAN, DOPE Five of Casablancas's crackers.

Brian Eno Burning Airlines Give You So Much More (ISLAND, 1974)

Benny Goodman Good-Bye (VICTOR, 1936)

Kate Bush Why Should I Love You? (EMI, 1993)

Max Richter Path 5 (Delta) (DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON, 2015)

BEAK> Secrets (INVADA, 2024)