Afternoon:
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Critic rating
Pete's a national treasure
Johnny Sharp, London Lite 18 Jan 2007
It can't be easy being Pete Doherty. Maybe he deserves respect for ignoring the media circus and continuing to focus on music, which, in case you'd forgotten, was always his first love. Some Babyshambles gigs have been as coherent as a tramps' singalong on a park bench, but they all boasted a certain unpretentious love of playing, and a shabby, vulnerable charm.
This hastily arranged solo show in a small 400 capacity Whitechapel venue was typical of his impulsive way of operating. Yet something must have gone right for him to stroll on stage at 12.10am, on the dot of his arranged time. From the moment he opened the show with Libertines classic What A Waster this was destined to be a communal singalong.
As if to thank fans who've stuck by him, the gig soon turned into Doherty's Greatest Hits, with Libertines gems like What Katie Did and Don't Look Back Into The Sun performed alongside Babyshambles favourites like Killamangiro, and Down In Albion. After an hour of crowd-pleasing, he invited on stage reggae MC The General, who he met in Pentonville Prison, and a few other mates, but every time it looked like they'd stray into jam session indulgences, he'd launch into another wellknown song.
After two hours on stage, he had to be practically dragged off. Say what you like about Pete Doherty, but there are few who would play for hours on end just for the sheer love of strumming a guitar and singing their heart out.
What a waster? On this form he's almost a national treasure.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (1)
I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer's sentiments.
This performance was magic, and I couldn't pull myself away even to grab a drink from the bar for fear of losing my spot near the front.
Pete Doherty may not always be technically perfect, but on this particular occasion he was lucid and gave the crowd 100% - highlighting the fact that he is more than just another singer in a band. The man is a poet, has a stage presence like few others, and is quite simply one of the most exciting songwriters on the present time.
The Babyshambles gig the following night was another story. Quite a messy affair in my opinion, and by the time they came on Pete appeared quite drunk. There were flashes of rock brilliance; the highlight being "Pipedown" where he launched himself into the crowd in his trademark suit and hat, all without missing a beat. It grew steadily sloppier and half-hearted from that point though. Consistency has never been the man's strong point, but the times where he shines make the disappointments worthwhile.
- John Mcdermott, London, UK, 23/01/2007 15:24
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