Babyshambles
IT
IS unusual to attend a gig where you have a huge sense of doubt
as to whether or not it will go ahead.
As
with any Babyshambles performance this gig matched that bill -
as in a week of yet more tabloid action for lead singer Pete Doherty,
revolving around an appearance in court relating to prior drugs
offences, it was hard not to be sceptical.
However,
when the band DID take to the stage they didn’t disappoint.
They performed just over an hour of songs from debut album, Down
in Albion, their most recent offering, The Blinding EP and, to
the delight of the gathering throng, they provided treats in the
form of Libertines covers ‘What Katie Did’ and ‘Time
for Heroes’.
As
expected the performance centred on former-Libertines-singer Mr
Doherty, as the remaining members of Babyshambles seemed to just
take back-seat and play along.
In between songs, chants of ‘Pete Pete Pete’ filled
the venue, and when he wasn’t singing he was picking up
the variety of hats and cigs that had been thrown on stage by
his adoring fans.
Although
it was the two Libertines songs went down the best with the crowd,
the words to ‘Down in Albion’, ‘F*ck Forever’
and ‘Killamangiro’, were still ringing round the venue
as the crowd left, proving their popularity.
Having
heard little by the band before the gig, I was surprised to witness
them put on very good, tight show. Babyshambles deserve some merit
and it would be nice if Babyshambles could create publicity through
good shows rather than through articles regarding Pete’s
private life.
Though
many members of the audience may have come for the experience
of seeing one of the most talked about names in the British music
scene at present, I do think this performance may have won the
band a few more fans.
by Daniel
Longhorn
