TORONTO - Arctic Monkeys' most recent album may be called Humbug, but their dynamic show at Kool Haus on Tuesday night elicited a response that was anything but, "Bah, you-know-what."

A lightning bolt of musical energy seemingly struck the venue as the fresh-faced British rock quartet, aided by a touring keyboardist-guitarist, delivered an exciting and fast-paced hour-and-20 minute set to a sold-out crowd who responded with cheering, applause and the occasional sing-and-clap-along.

After the young audience members engaged in a "Monkeys! Monkeys!" chant, the Sheffield group kicked off the night with Dance Little Liar from Humbug and played no fewer than eights songs from the new disc with the standouts proving to be Crying Lightning and Potion Approaching, early in the show, and Dangerous Animals, and My Propeller towards the end.

The band, led by confident and accomplished wordsmith and singer-guitarist Alex Turner, last played in Toronto at the same venue, so the question now is why aren't they any bigger across the pond after three albums into their fast-rising career?

Not only are they huge in England, but they've improved exponentially in a live setting with three of the four band members, Turner, bassist Nick O' Malley and guitarist Jamie Cook, sporting long hair which made for excellent hair-whipping opportunities amidst a fondness for strobe lights and ultra loud sound.

Drummer Matt Helders was no wall flower either as he bashed his kit so hard and fast during the song Sketchhead it was no wonder that Humbug producer Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age nicknamed him "the Octopus."

After that particular impressive display, Turner commanded: "Matthew Helders on drums. If you like him, tell him you like him Toronto!"

But truth be told it was older, more well-known tunes like Brianstorm, Still Take You Home, I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, View From The Afternoon, Do Me A Favour, and Fluorescent Adolescent that made the crowd go absolutely nuts.

"You look good Toronto," said Turner, who moved to Brooklyn earlier this year where he's shacked up with MTV personality and fellow Brit Alexa Chung.

Right back at ya Alex.

The band also admirably tackled a Nick Cave cover Red Right Hand, whose title comes from a line in John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, during the encore complete with moody red lights and just the right amount of swagger.

Energetic, explosive and cooler than cool, Arctic Monkeys' performance proved just how vital rock 'n' roll can be.

SET LIST:

Dance Little Liar

Brianstorm

Crying Lightning

Potion Approaching

Pretty Visitors

This House Is a Circus

Still Take You Home

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

If You Were There, Beware

Sketchead

Dangerous Animals

View From the Afternoon

Secret Door

Cornerstone

Do Me a Favour

Flourescent Adolescent

ENCORE:

Red Right Hand

My Propellor

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