REVIEW & SLIDESHOW: Alex Turner's The Last Shadow Puppets at Sheffield City Hall.

And at a sold out Sheffield City Hall last night he really was at home being his self-indulgent best.

His homecomings are usually Arena affairs and this would have sold out in minutes. As it was the 2,000 seat City Hall sold in seconds. Tickets were like gold dust.

An intimate venue was perfect for this, to rekindle his bromance with TLSP co-frontman Miles Kane, with a touring band and a lush string quartet, promoting their brand new second album, Everything You’ve Come to Expect.

Fans got exactly what they expected. The co-hosts did little talking, even amongst themselves, but the 'Yorkshire' chanting crowd didn't want chat, they wanted songs and they got a blistering 80-minute set, virtually everything from both albums.

TLSP, who can rock and roll with the best of them, are essentially an easy listening version of the Arctic Monkeys. And that's not in a bad way. This latest material, with Turner's distinctive vocals, could easily pass as a fantastic follow up to AM.

It's plush retro, more a pastiche then a homage to the great sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, containing classic Turner lines

Their latest tunes are heavily influenced by American music great Scott Walker and soul man Isaac Hayes, but throw in a mix of Lennon, McCartney, Bowie, at times even the funky guitar style of Nile Rogers. Then add some Bondesque strings.

Snake-hipped crooner Alex, in his open necked shirt with business like rolled up sleeves, launched with Aviation, then flew into the first album title track and top 10 hit, The Age of the Understatement.

Other highlights included the disco styled Element Of Surprise, with its soulful strings, funky guitar riff, harmonising vocals and understated charm. Sweet Dreams, TN, delivered with swagger, while Bad Habits, a Miles Kane tune with him on lead vocals, showed he's more than just a pretty face.

Everything That You'ce Come To Expect is a hypnotic ballad. The Dream Synopsis, including a line about walking through Sheffield city centre, was too good an opportunity for Turner, who jumped off stage and walked through the crowd, as fans went crazy t touch the High Green kid done good..

I Want You (She’s So Heavy), a Beatles song Turner and Kane have been doing since their inception eight years ago, was part of a three track encore. It served only to remind us that we were standing in the shadow of greatness..

Top concert. 9/10.

SET LIST

AviationThe Age Of The UnderstatementUsed to Be My GirlCalm Like YouSeparate And Ever DeadlyThe Element of SurpriseThe ChamberThe Dream SynopsisMy Mistakes Were Made For YouOnly The TruthBad HabitsDracula TeethEverything You've Come to ExpectThe Meeting PlaceSweet Dreams, TNIn My RoomEncore:I Want You (She's So Heavy) (The Beatles cover)Miracle AlignerStanding Next To Me

2016 TOUR DATES:

26 March: UK, Edinburgh – Usher Hall

29 March: France, Paris – Olympia

1 April: UK, London - Hackney Empire

2 April: UK, Liverpool – Olympia

3 April: UK, Sheffield – City Hall

7 April: Netherlands, Amsterdam – Paradiso

11 April: USA, NYC - Webster Hall

17 April: USA, San Francisco – The Fillmore

20 April: USA, Los Angeles – The Theatre at Ace Hotel

10 July: UK, Manchester – Castlefield Bowl

12 July: UK, Bridlington – The Spa

13 July: UK, Bournemouth – BIC

15 July: UK, London – Alexandra Palace

MORE LINKS

The Last Shadow Puppets website www.thelastshadowpuppets.com Facebook facebook.com/thelastshadowpuppets Twitter @TLSP Instagram www.instagram.com/thelastshadowpuppets

Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/what-s-on/gigs-and-music/extra-uk-dates-alex-turner-s-the-last-shadow-puppets-sell-out-sheffield-city-hall-1-7695829#ixzz44oZ6Jc6S