Babyshambles – O2 Academy, Newcastle, 5/09/2013
Babyshambles arrived after a somewhat anxious wait from the gathering crowd, opened with the song ‘Delivery’. Doherty, trained in the art of being fashionably late, looked dapper in his famous suit and trilby hat combination. The band has a strong following in the North East, evident in the hero’s welcome from the ecstatic crowd. Northumberland born Doherty has ties here that only a Northerner can understand.
The latest tour is a culmination of superior talent, experience and some pretty rough times. Doherty has previously described the band’s lack of communication and direction; coupled with the near fatal accident involving bass player Drew McConnell, it’s any wonder the band stayed intact. To add insult to injury, Doherty currently resides in Paris whilst the other band members are situated in London. However, in typical fashion, all ended successfully for the hedonistic band. Whilst enduring a long and arduous recovery which involved plenty of physiotherapy, McConnell had plenty of time to write new material. With Pete Doherty also having been busy, a rendezvous between members proved to be fulfilling; resulting in the latest album ‘A Sequel To The Prequel’, which was released on the 2nd September.
It wouldn’t ring true to say that the crowd erupted at any particular song, as the atmosphere at the O2 was chaotic from start to finish. Doherty donned a Fender Telecaster for certain songs, displaying an aptitude for guitar playing alongside his known lyrical genius. Mik Whitnall also displayed such prowess in songs such as ‘8 Dead Boys’; proving to cynics that he is just as talented as former Babyshambles member Patrick Walden. This track was a hit, prompting a sing along from the crowd. Some of the new material was also played, including tracks such as ‘Fall From Grace’. It appears to depict Doherty’s own up and down lifestyle, and is sure to be a future Babyshambles anthem. The gig was a mixture of old and new, with the band playing records such as ‘The Man Who Came To Stay’ and ‘Maybelline’. Regardless of their chronological order in age, each song was met with rapport from the crowd. The band ended a superb and thoroughly enjoyable gig with the tune ‘Fuck Forever’, arguably their most famous song to date. Not a single soul in the audience was silent, cohering with one another to belt out the lyrics. In true rock and roll fashion, Doherty stage dived into the crowd, only remerging several minutes later. A bold end to a brilliant set. What more could you expect from such a band?
Babyshambles prove time and time again that the best answer to bad press is to reply with sheer musical ability. Although I edge on the side of bias, as Babyshambles are one of my favourite bands, they are without a doubt one of the best bands of the modern era. 9/10
Jamie Morrell