What Became Of The Libertines?
Tonight is a comeback of many kinds, The Libertines should have conquered all in the mid 2000’s but the sharp rise and fall, and self combustion are like a ready made film script waiting for Julian Temple to apply his trade.
The fact that Pete Doherty is still alive whilst others around him have fallen is a surprise twist in the tale, burglary, imprisonment, cocaine and heroin addictions, numerous rehab visits are all just features in the story of how a band on the brink of arena status were already ruined, whilst ironically at the same time gaining their highest positions in the UK music charts.
This gig should have happened 10 years ago and despite a new album, which no one really thought would happen, and a few high profile festival returns along the way, this Blues Brothers style arena reunion of 'putting the band back together', continues to include a mass of vulnerability, as they cancelled the last potential visit to Manchester at short notice due to Doherty’s ill health or rather ‘anxiety’.
So the first question on everyone’s lips is “Will he show up?” and then there is the expectation of a raw and riotous show. If he doesn’t turn up, I’m not sure what will happen, as this audience are already 2 parts smashed and on-going, this is Manchester on a Saturday night after all.
We’ve had some superb support acts in the form of ‘Reverend & The Makers’ and the excellent ‘Blossoms’ (see previous reviews) but when the lights eventually dim 10 minutes or more later than expected, and Pete walks out and doffs his hat to the crowd and picks up a guitar, his brother in arms Carl Barat cracks open a beer that spurts all over himself, well - at least the first question has been answered.
Kicking off with the appropriately titled ‘Barbarians’ the first few hundred punters at the front receive a shower of liquid from the people behind and by ‘The Delaney’ they have lost all trace of beer in their plastic glasses, as the riotous push and shove commences. Even from my vantage point in the first level seats, there is still extortionately priced lager being spilled up there too, no one is safe, no one is sober it seems. It’s a beautiful shambles, exactly what they came for!
A quite relentless start of uptempo numbers so by the time we get the “shoop shoop delang delang” of ‘What Katie Did’, we are ready for a breather, and probably another trip to the bar. The band don’t have to venture too far for a drink as they have a female assistant side stage, serving drinks in a 70’s cinema usher style, wearing a military red uniform.
It is fair to say that out of the new stuff they played in the 21 song set, only really ‘Gunga Din’ received the same kind of welcome as any of their classics. ‘Can’t stand me now’ still being one of the standout live songs as it still describes perfectly the Barat & Doherty relationship.
A highlight moment for me occurs when Barat moves to the piano and they create a poignant version of a Doherty song “You’re My Waterloo”, it's an old song reworked well for the new album but live it is tender and emotional - for those sober enough to appreciate it!.
Apart from bare chested Gary Powell on the drums who makes an appearance at the end of the show shouting “Manchester” several times, its all been about Barat and Doherty and during the set we get that expected sight of both of them singing into the same mic. Not quite able to keep apart for too long, they sweat, spit lyrics and breath over each other like two drunk lovers. It’s a snapshot in time and a gesture to show the crowd that after all they have collectively been through, everything can be ok. Like the film script that requires a happy ending, that vision of the two of them together, through a blurry 'inebriate cam', would be just that.
The final surprise comes when you realise they haven’t played ‘What became of the Likely Lads?’, how exactly did they get away with that?
Encore comes in the form of ‘What a Waster’ and ‘Don’t Look Back into the Sun’ and the Union Jack waving band are gone in a further haze of spilled beer and bravado. As their song goes “Have we enough to keep it together? or do we just keep on pretending (and hope our luck is never ending..)” Can they keep it together? it looks like they finally might be able to, and as luck goes, they are certainly riding it well.
COMMENTS
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I saw them in London on the Saturday and it was pretty much the same beer fuelled riot! The refreshment requirments seem to have gotten worse for London though...there were 4 ladies who ended up in an undignified heap at the end. Gig was pretty legendary though, and blimey werent they loud!
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Quite a night. Lots of walking on your part. I though Blossoms where better though
