Pete Doherty is One of Britain’s Last Great Rock Stars
Along with his partner in crime Carl Barat and their band The Libertines, he has written legendary songs that changed the entire landscape of British music and fashion. Reviving the rock and roll dream like a bull in a china shop, just when it seemed it was all but dead and gone, such is the power of his influence on our music scene. Paving the way for other giants like Arctic Monkeys to blow up, it’s hard to imagine what our music scene would sound like today without him. That’s not to say it’s been an easy ride. By now, most of us know Doherty’s long and winding road to the relative sobriety he enjoys in 2024. We are immensely proud of him for conquering his demons, continuing to create art, and enjoying life with the Libertines. Their new album, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, sounds as fresh as ever.
As I walked to Sneinton Market, I whacked Up The Bracket on full volume. It had been a while since I last listened, and it really took me away to happy memories of parties and gigs, flooding my mind with excitement as I realised just how many classic songs he has written. This album, in particular, is the purest distillation of the Albion dream. The energy captured in that record is incomparable and never loses its power. I felt so lucky, I couldn’t believe I was going to see this British legend play his acoustic guitar to a crowd of only around 60 people at the best new venue in Nottingham, The Grove.
At The Grove, I grabbed a reasonably priced Aspall’s cider from the bar and found a spot at the back, full of intrigue about the support act. Pretty quickly, the trio emerged with two guitars and a violin. They were called Me and Thee, from Wolverhampton, and started their set by exclaiming how blessed they felt to be supporting one of their musical heroes. Beautiful violin melodies fused with chugging acoustic chords, bashed out with power by their frontman Charlie, who looked and sounded vocally like a blend of Bobby Gillespie and Shaun Ryder. Their sound at times reminded me of The Perfect Prescription-era Spacemen 3, with hints of The La’s poking through. Halfway through the set, their singer Charlie told one of the best stories I’ve ever heard between songs. It almost seemed too ridiculous to be true: apparently, the bass player and drummer had angrily left the band the night before because Charlie hadn’t told them about the support show. To make matters worse, Charlie’s phone electrocuted him when he tried replying to their messages, sending him to the hospital overnight. It was a miracle they even played the show! The weight of that chaos added so much to their set.
Halfway through the next tune, Pete Doherty stood by the doorway, cigarette in hand, blowing smoke and smiling, with a look in his eyes that showed his love for what they were doing. Me and Thee didn’t miss a beat and continued to impress. They had weathered a storm to pull off one of the most memorable sets I’ve seen in ages – well done to Me and Thee! I look forward to seeing them again.
As Me and Thee finished, I debated sneaking a cigarette but decided against it as Doherty quickly rumbled onto the stage to rapturous applause. He opened with a brand new, reggae-inspired tune called ‘Dandy Hooligan’ he had written the night before, getting the crowd warmed up. Doherty is a true British poet, with intricate, story-like lyrics spilling out of him like fine wine from a vintage bottle. Crashing around on his guitar, he played classics like ‘What Katie Did’ and Music When The Lights Go Out,’ perfectly placed between more obscure tracks from other bands and solo projects. Some of these songs felt like watching a shooting star – fleeting and unforgettable. He was almost like a magician, pulling spectacular tricks from his hat.
After a few slower tunes, Doherty launched into an acoustic version of ‘What A Waster,’ electrifying the crowd and transforming the atmosphere into the sweaty, chaotic energy The Libertines are known for. Once the audience had a moment to catch their breath, he asked for requests for the final song. Someone shouted ‘Dilly Boys,’ a Libertines track, and Doherty closed the show with a bang before dashing off into the night. He was on his way to play a small one-off set for his friends in Vona Vella, who partly own The Grove, just hours before headlining a sold-out gig at Rock City. This shows the immense integrity Doherty has in spades.
It’s unlikely we’ll see another artist of his stature dive into such an intimate setting with as much passion as he does. I walked home feeling amazed and grateful to have witnessed this – Pete Doherty, happy and healthy in 2024, still playing his legendary songs to a loyal audience. God bless Pete Doherty and The Libertines! Let’s hope they keep their ship sailing for years to come.