The Libertines. O2 Academy, Bristol — Review
The atmosphere was electric in the O2 Academy, and the sense of excitement was reaching fever pitch as the advertised stage time came and went and The Libertines still hadn’t appeared. In the old days you’d be worried that Pete wouldn’t show, but this 2015 reincarnation of the band feels different, they’re more focused and seem like a band at ease with themselves.
A look around proved that the audience had changed as well. A large percentage of the crowd were 25–35 year olds who’d grown up with the band and had their adolescence sound-tracked by those two seminal albums. Dads who had left the children at home to relive carefree days, watching a band they never thought they’d see play again, alongside teenagers who’d not been around to see the Libs first time around. Thankfully nobody was wearing the famous red Royal Guard jackets that The Libertines had made so popular in their heyday.
The opening strains of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again play as the band walk out onto the stage, as they have since they reunited. The crowd sing along, welcoming back their heroes with the wartime ballad, a perfect choice to show The Libertine’s Great British romanticism. A sea of camera phones flash as the band kick off with regular opener Horrowshow, gradually being put away as The Libs tear straight into Vertigo and The Delaney at breakneck speed. The crowd moves ferociously forward and back with the music and as the band move into Can’t Stand Me Now it’s clear that the academy has become a giant karaoke hall, with everyone singing along.
The band don’t interact much with the audience at first but as the set continues they begin to talk to the crowd that greets any reference to Bristol like a winning lottery ticket. After a glorious rendition of Time for Heroes preceded by new track Fame and Fortune the tone changes as Pete picks up his acoustic to play Music When the Lights Go Out which gets perhaps the best reception so far.
What Katie Did got the hairs standing on the back of your neck, an unexpected favourite with it’s refrain of “Shoop, shoop, shoop de-lang de-lang”, which was sung by everyone in the packed venue. Carl’s voice reflected the emotive nature of the song and sounded better than ever, perhaps helped by the audiences backing.
Gunga Din was the second of the five tracks from the upcoming album played and the recent single was the strongest of the five. It’s uplifting ska guitars and nihilistic lyrics both a reminder of the strengths of the band and a glimpse at their musical development. Gary and John, so often in the shadow of their two more celebrated band-mates, drive this song with its thumping drums and dancing bassline the main cause of its infectiousness.
Rattling through the rest of their impressive back catalogue and new tracks Heart of the Matter and Anthem for Doomed Youth the band stop only to decide what song to play next, the chaotic and unplanned nature of the band still evident. They share memories of visiting the venue when supporting The Vines and individually with their own bands, with Pete pretending to forget Carls former band. Mentions of the solid but unspectacular Babyshambles, Yeti and Dirty Pretty Things unintentionally offer a reminder that whilst they’re all talented individuals they only truly excel when part of The Libertines, a band that is more than the sum of its parts.
The short mini-tour that this gig was part of.
They chose to begin the encore with their final new track Iceman, receiving its live debut. The band warn the audience of this beforehand and it’s far from a polished performance but the exclusivity of this first listen is appreciated by the crowd. Iceman is an acoustic ballad with Carl and Pete channelling their inner John and Paul, exchanging melodies with a chorus eerily reminiscent of The Beatles.
With the acoustic guitars put to one side the band launch into What a Waster and into Up the Bracket before finishing with their best song Don’t Look Back Into the Sun. As the guitar intro takes hold the crowd go wild, with what may-or-may-not be drink thrown everywhere. The triumphant uplifting chorus echoes around the academy before turning into rapturous applause as the band revel in the audience’s appreciation before both band and crowd leave with beaming smiles.
As the diverse audience spills out onto the street you get the feeling that this is a real moment. The academy finally feeling relevant once again, and a band who are both in love with each other, and in love with the music again. The new tracks slotted well with the classics and offer a glimpse into what could be a great third album from the band. After the triumphant festival appearances The Libertines are now playing the venues that best suit their music, and it’s starting to look like that lucrative reunion wasn’t just get-rich-quick scheme but a statement of intent from a band who against all odds and expectation are back to their tumultuous best.
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Set List
Horrorshow
Vertigo
The Delaney
Can’t Stand Me Now
Fame and Fortune
Time for Heroes
Music When the Lights Go Out
Begging
What Katie Did
Gunga Din
Boys in the Band
The Ha Ha Wall
Heart of the Matter
Last Post on the Bugle
Death on the Stairs
Tell the King
Anthem For Doomed Youth
The Good Old Days
Encore –
Iceman
What a Waster
Up the Bracket
Don’t Look Back Into the Sun
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Originally published at farleywrites.wordpress.com on September 14, 2015.
