Four proper albums and five years into their careers, Arctic Monkeys finally made their way to Indianapolis. Touring in support of newest record, Suck It And See, the band alternated between the crazy energy, fast-paced, dance punk-pop that helped them build their name and the more melodic songs that have crept into their catalog of late.

The show opened with the in-your-face Pretty Visitors from Humbug followed by the dark, swagger of Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair and Black Treacle from Suck It. After a nice version of The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala, also from the new record, the band kicked the show into a new gear. The three-song set of Brainstorm, The View from the Afternoon, and I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor was the perfect combination of everything the Monkeys were about when they began. On the opposite end of the spectrum, She’s Thunderstorms, which opens Suck It and was played mid-set, is arguably the most mature song they’ve ever written. Lead Monkey Alex Turner has developed into a really dynamic front man, and the rest of the band supports him well.

The Monkeys wrapped up the tight main set with early single When the Sun Goes Down. The crowd then called them back out for an encore, a three-song wrap-up consisting of Teddy Picker, Crying Lightning, and 505. I would have liked to see them play longer — 75 minutes for a band with four albums is on the short side — but the show was tight and never lagged. Let’s hope Indianapolis doesn’t have to wait another five years.

Opening act Smith Westerns were a completely different story. I’ll say this first: I like the newest album, Dye It Blonde. I think it’s got several really good songs. But their performance tonight was a train wreck. The sound mix was terrible, the guitars frequently sounded like they were out of tune, and they had a smoke machine working overtime like it was a Sisters of Mercy show. They’re a young band with a lot of promise, but they can’t come out and be that sloppy and unpolished and expect to win new fans.

Were you there? What was your take on the show?