The Orwells have compared Arctic Monkeys to boyband Backstreet Boys.

In a new interview, the up-and-coming Chicago band elaborated on comments they made earlier this year, when they called their former touring buddies Arctic Monkeys’ performances “synchronised”.

Speaking to DIY, Matt O’Keefe of the band said: “They try and mash together genres. [They’re] kind of like the hip Backstreet Boys or something… the set list was always the same. If you saw the show once, you saw every show that they played. I mean, we learned lessons from good things that they did, but then also – let’s not fucking do that.”


Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner previously responded to their criticism of the band’s live shows. “They should have been out trying to get laid instead of watching us every night,” he said. “I don’t think that’s fair [to call it synchronised]. There comes a time on a tour when something works and you tend to leave it alone. We have been changing it around a little bit.”

He added: “You can’t mess around with it too much. It’s almost like the show isn’t designed to be watched by the same person every night. Nowadays people share the setlists, but I’m by no means fucking phoning it in. It’s not like we have [pre-recorded] tracks, we’re up there fucking doing it.”

The Orwells supported the Sheffield band on their US arena tour earlier this year. They release their new album ‘Disgraceland’ today (June 2) and are currently on tour in the UK. They play:

Liverpool East Village Arts Club (June 2)

Edinburgh Electric Circus (3)

Nottingham Rescue Rooms (4)

London Dingwalls (5)

Manchester Gorilla (6)

To check the availability of The Orwells tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0844 858 6765