24.08.10

The Libertines Live Rehearsal - HMV Forum,London

In the words of Peter "And here we are again", The venue was beautifully fitting, a 1934 art deco theatre and with the crowd all seated staring at the the iconic image of the "Up the bracket" album cover waiting in anticipation, a spokes man takes to the stage and thanks everyone for coming and to inform the audience that they will take to the stage in 10 minutes.... 20 minutes later a roar from the crowd as Peter,Carl, John and Gary take to the stage in front of a live crowd for the first time in 6 years.

With Peter to the left, Carl centre and John to the right they went straight in to "Horrowshow" the first song they looked uneasy some sideways glances from Peter to Carl as if to say "Do I come over to you, or are you coming to me" but they each stayed behind there own mic as if it was there own safety zone, John was doing what John does and picks a point in the distance and doesn't take his eyes of it but yet still manages to hit every chord.

They then burst in to "Delaney" and it wasn't till the following song "Vertigo" that Peter wandered over to Carl and started to play off each other like they did 6 years ago, with whispers and smiles to each other Peter lit a cigarette, and you knew it was just about to get started.

They went on to play 'Last Post On The Bugle', 'Begging', 'The Ha Ha Wall' and 'Lust Of The Libertine' with some of the lyrics still ringing true today, watching them on stage it was like everything in the past had ever happened, they all looked so happy to be in each other's company and by now even John was waving to people in the crowd and Peter and Carl was both putting there hands into the crowd (they will be very brave to do that tonight) and then saying hello to people. It was an amazing atmosphere it felt like more of a homecoming sing-along celebration for a group of people that had gone missing than a gig.

Peter now having enough cigarettes from the 300 strong crowd to become a tobacconist started to chat to Carl and he joined him for a quick cig.

They went on to play some of the classics from the two albums including 'Campaign Of Hate' 'Boys In The Band' 'Tell The King' 'Death On The Stairs' 'Music When The Lights Go Out'.

As each song went by the pace they was playing at was picking up and with the traditional mic sharing and finishing each others lyrics, it was all in full flow.

Carl then put his guitar down as Peter started to play the opening riff to 'What Katie Did' and took to the mic, with Peter and the crowd joining in for "Shoop shoop, shoop de-lang-a-lang".

Carl picked up his guitar again and then went to straight into 'The Saga', It was then the track that every Libertines and non Libertines fan knows and it was always going to be an interesting one to watch them sing/play first time around again, with them both behind there own mics they started to play 'Cant Stand Me Now" a song that as all of you know is a very honest and raw song, with both of them looking to in the crowd they started to sing the lyrics, Peter then turned to Carl and sang the final section of the song but Carl looked on into the crowd.

It was one of the best song of the night to watch, and then without any afterthought and no more than a 10 second break when straight into 'What Became Of The Likely Lads' 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' Where they shared the same mic all the way through and played at blistering pace and on to the, 'The Good Old Days' and 'Time For Heroes'.

They then lit another cigarette and had a laugh and a few jokes, Peter reminded the crowd "It's only a rehearsal and you got in for free anyway".

They played the opening to 'Radio America' before somehow but seamlessly blending it in to the classic that is 'Up The Bracket', after that they all waved goodbye to the crowd and Gary thanked everyone for coming along.

After about 10 minutes with the guitars re-tuned they returned to the stage with drinks in there hand, Peter and Carl done there arm in arm drink sharing routine and then just went for it, it was the first time that I had been lucky enough to watch them play live and after hearing all the live recordings and seeing the video's on Youtube you get a good idea of how good they were live, but the next two tracks didn't even come close to what I had seen before, they played them so fast and was bouncing off each other it was an amazing sight. For all the people what have said "It wont be the same as before" they was right, its was better than anything that I had ever seen before and had expected from them, and I think anyone who was there and saw them play 'What A Waster' and 'I Get Along' would agree with me.

So after a set which went on for just under an hour and a half, and consisted of 23 songs, it was an amazing gig, and it was great to watch and sing-along to, the passion was still there for all of them and for everyone to see, and I think towards the end of the set they was just starting to relax and get use to all being on stage together again, so if last night was anything to go on the next 3 shows are going to be very special. Maybe the Albion has just left the port again, who knows where the next stop will be?