Arctic Monkeys Give Cedar Park Center the F Sharp

Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner caught the crowd at the Cedar Park Center Tuesday unaware, slinking onstage during opening act Mini Mansions and hijacking vocals from drummer (and Queens of the Stone Age bassist) Michael Shuman. Turner hinted at the 90-minute spectacle to come with a brief but seductive verse that left screaming girls in his wake.

“Thanks to Arctic Monkeys,” Shuman said with good cheer. “Thanks to our fourth member.”

A quarter after 9pm, the crowd surged forward, greeting the entire English quartet this time. Outstretched hands furiously photographed their every move as the rockers burst into the opening track of their fifth LP, last year’s AM. His face obscured by smoke and shadows, Turner put his expression in the subtle swing of his hips.

Bouncy keys from Thomas Rowley anchored pop anthem “Snap Out of It,” while the frontman’s languid delivery and Matt Helders’ explosive percussion puffed up “Arabella.” After a song or two, Turner would inevitably run a comb through his hair, arranging his shaggy bangs. Add in the swagger and leather jacket, and Henry Winkler would be proud.

“Crying Lightning” from 2009’s Humbug caused a riptide in the floor section. Though Turner’s vocals were easily overpowered, he bellowed the “twisted and deranged” chorus. Acting as stage backdrop, the sound wave from the cover of AM served as the pulse of the show, shining brightly in segments with the beat. Teenagers on up bounced along to the album’s “Knee Socks.”

“Who wants to hear another one in F Sharp?” teased Turner. “I know you like it!”

Even if half the people in the three-quarters-full arena couldn’t hum an F Sharp, they’d deny him nothing. Cue frenzied cheers.

“They cannot get enough of that F Sharp in Austin,” beamed the singer. “What else’ve you got, Matthew?”

Turner shed his jacket for the tongue twisting “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” and the “No.1 Party Anthem.” A three-song encore began with “One for the Road,” veered into sentimental territory on “I Wanna Be Yours,” and culminated in the explosive “R U Mine?”

“It’s been a real fucking pleasure, Austin,” smirked Turner. “I hope to do it again soon.”