PARTYING in pubs and pulling pints for fans after the gig in an area of Glasgow that not even Pete Doherty should walk alone after dark, Babyshambles and their infamous frontman were on top form for the first night of their UK tour.
Opening the evening with a fitting bagpipe introduction, the band take to the stage of the Barrowlands on time and with ultimate swagger. With new album Sequel to the Prequel the featured backdrop, its clear the band are on a promotional tour to parade their new piece of work down the throats of their adoring fans. And their adoring fans are therefore more than delighted with the opener Delivery from the vintage 2007 album Shotters Nation.
Saluting the crowd, Doherty gets right into the swing of gigging again after such a long break. It’s been almost three years since Doherty has been on the road with Babyshambles, and he’s clearly pleased to be back. The first from the new album to be played live, Nothing Comes To Nothing is belted out with great force.
Man Who Came to Stay causes the crowd to go nuts; impressive for a B side single. Without his guitar, Doherty revels in the crowd’s energy as he parades around the stage and takes things up another level with his frontman glare.
Surprisingly so, Doherty and co are on tremendous form. With Doherty’s vocals sounding great, the rest of the band are playing real tight and upon the Barrowlands stage, dare I say it- they look like pros.
Sex Pistols influences are fuelled into the set at times, picky guitars bringing in that punk influence. With crowd chants for their idol, Glaswegain accented ‘Pete! Pete! Pete!’ fill the venue throughout the gig.
There’s no denying Doherty’s place in the hearts of the crowd.
It might be a school night for many, but there’s no stopping the relentless crowd as they throw themselves into mass jumping, shouting and screaming. And in true Babyshambles gig fashion, one fan shows the signs of one too many as she falls to the ground around me.
A ten minute break between the encore causes the crowd to go into hysteria when they return to the stage and open the chords of Kilimanjaro.
Taking a fag from his packet in his pocket, he sparks one up and chucks the remainder packet into the crowd, a scramble at the front for the memorabilia takes place. This leads Babyshambles into Fuck Forever- best way to describe the atmosphere with this set closer is floaty; although there’s nothing dreamy about the people in the crowd, their reactions are priceless.
What goes up, must come down- but for now Pete Doherty and co reign supreme with a new record and live act to be extraordinary proud of.
