The Libertines - London Metro - 27/06/02
4/5
By: Toby L
Set-List: 'Horror Show', 'Up The Bracket', 'Vertigo', 'What A Waster', 'Mayday', 'Time For Heroes', 'Boys In The Band', 'I Get Along'.
The wonder and allure that forms a 'secret gig' is often quite hard to not get excited over. Prince (or 'symbol', or whatever that little guy is called these days) cherishes the chance to turn up unannounced at venues and perform red-hot shows to a selected few that are just lucky enough to be there at the time, as do Blur, who frequently use such occasions as launch-pads for their new material, testing it out on fans' ears before the rest of the world becomes exposed to it.
As it happens, tonight, we are experiencing one of these special events, except with a London-based four-piece that the UK press has been getting quite comfy with - The Libertines. Rockfeedback was informed of this impending show in London's Metro club, to be played during one of Alan McGee's 'Death Disco' punk-themed evenings, just a couple of hours prior to its actual occurrence after the receipt of a mysterious phone-call. When we eventually arrive to the venue later on, it's 12am and the band aren't due onstage for a further half-hour. Anticipation is rising - as are the levels of alcohol being consumed, with certain audience-members intoxicated to the point of that much-feared of drunken states: yes, dancing in public. And it ain't pretty.
Rewardingly, some moments later, more enticing is the sight of our four men walking (or swaying) into vision. People lazily applaud and the group immediately set into action, delivering a foaming-at-the-mouth rendition of 'Horror Show', complete with microphones knocked over carelessly and one of the frontmen, Pete Doherty, having to sing the words into the air without the aid of amplification. His guitar then cuts out. As does Carl Barat's, too. Oh dear. Yet this is just a deceptive beginning - for, after this, events begin to go startlingly to plan, the band's extraordinary energy reassuringly channelled to the boys playing their instruments as opposed to unplugging them in a momentary daze.
The specific ensuing assault enjoyed consists of single 'What A Waster', played with all the pride and passion you'd hope of a quartet that have recently unleashed it into the top-40, and melodic symphonies such as 'Up The Bracket' and 'Time For Heroes', complemented best when smacked alongside such rock 'n' roll groovers as the riffs-a-plenty howls of 'Boys In The Band' and 'Vertigo' - let alone the bull-in-a-china-shop thrash of 'Mayday'.
As it all goes off and the audience begin the distressing dancing again for a final 'I Get Along', the framework of the group, as ably provided by John Hassall's continually sturdy bass and Gary Powell's unfathomably tight (and dangerous) drumming, is pretty much the only thing which bears coherence as Barat and Doherty wrestle with their guitars until a thunderous close and a loud cheer lets up. Phew, what a racket.
And the last song is effectively The Libertines down to a tee: a not particularly ordered riot of subconscious postures, tuneful yet hoarse vocals, and a clutch of songs that have the potential to define Britain's musical 2002. It may have been a secret gig witnessed here this evening - but the lid on The Libertines' potential power isn't gonna be kept closed for long.
Artists in this article: The Libertines
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