Turning up at the Liverpool Carling Academy to see Babyshambles you could take your time getting there as you always knew Babyshambels would be late on stage. However tonight they managed to be on for around 10pm which is not that bad considering Peter’s 2am appearance at the Zanzibar last year.
To the gig, after the compare seemingly to be a Pete tag along, the shambles walk on stage. Pete seems drunk rather than up to his eyes in any other substance, in fact the whole gig is spot on with little craziness, the only mention was when Pete threw the mic in the crowd or nicked someone’s Oldham Athletic shirt.
Killamangiro booted off the show with the whole of the crowd jumping up and down with sheer delight. There were a few mic hic ups but that was more to do with Pete banging into it. Refreshingly the set was complete but something was still missing that just didn’t make it like the good old days.
Tracks from the marvellous ‘Down In Albion’ album were on show with the terrific ‘A Rebours’ that included Mr Doherty’s trademark wailing.
‘Merry Go Round’ was a delicate effort with Pete singing away that seemed to drag a little. A tamer Pete provided an exciting gig especially when he burst into ‘Time for Heroes’.
‘Pipedown’ is a favourite off the album with in your face screams of ‘Paddy put the pipedown’. Doherty at his best. ’32 December’ was yet another yelping of talent. Although a less hostile gig, on stage Pete look dazed between songs staggering about but then snapped into it when he sang, seemed more like drunkenness than anything else. You did get the sense that there were people keeping him in line for the tour though.
‘Albion’ was a cult anthem of the Babyshambles gang that had the crowd singing in harmony and swaying away. ‘Up the bracket’ gave us all reminders of a joyous past life.
Is the good ship Albion back on track? Well at least Babyshambles leave Liverpool with a set that dazzled the crowd and perhaps may have left some people thinking what all the hype of ‘Potty Pete’ is about.
