Review: Peter Doherty live at Bristol O2 Academy


Photo of Peter Doherty with The Libertines - booked for Secret Garden Party 2023 - live in Manchester (Gary Mather for Live4ever)

Peter Doherty with The Libertines live in Manchester (Gary Mather for Live4ever)




Peter Doherty was in Bristol on April 29th.

While the wait for new Libertines music enters its ninth year (the hotel’s up and running chaps, chop chop!), it seems even their biggest firebrand is struggling to fill his days.

This ‘Battered Songbook’ tour is not in support of a new or old album under any of his various guises, but seems to be little more than an excuse for the former tabloid favourite to rattle around the country and keep himself occupied.

Alternatively it’s a reminder of Peter Doherty’s hefty back catalogue, a fact which seems to be forgotten. Despite his public perception as something of a wastrel, the (former?) Babyshambles man has 11 studio albums to his name across a 21-year career, as well as countless one-off singles or unreleased material, all of which is well represented tonight.

Befitting the travelling troubadour vibe, Doherty takes to the stage with a minimum of fuss and opens with a new number entitled Black Cloud.

It’s a low-key affair, and he explains afterwards that his voice is slightly shot and thus continues with a series of subtle, under-stated tracks.

Immediately bringing the crowd onside, he rolls into an even-more wistful Music When The Lights Go Out, followed by the frail Merry Go Round from Babyshambles’ debut album, but abandons it half-way though.

It becomes a theme of the night; entirely acoustic, some songs get a full run-through, some are abandoned and others just peter (ho-ho) out.

Deep cut From Bollywood To Battersea gets a muted response and (perhaps coincidentally) is curtailed, giving way to the folky, undemanding Arcady from his debut solo album before we get an injection of gumption with The Man Who Would Be King, the second big singalong of the night.



While setlists are mere guidelines for Peter Doherty, there must have been some conflict when it came to the inclusion of certain songs. An old pro, he must have been aware that there would be outrage if he didn’t offer up some of the Libertines’ favourites, but Can’t Stand Me Now (in particular) suffers as a result, built as it is on the tempestuous chemistry of Doherty and Carl Barat.

Typically raucous versions of Don’t Look Back Into The Sun and Time For Heroes (with some assistance from one of his crew on electric guitar) fare better, both shrewdly chosen to close the set.

The truncated songs and general ramshackle nature of the set mean it’s often hard to keep track, but Peter Doherty announces a couple of newer songs, one with lyrics referencing dinghies and, ‘you know what you can do with your visa, mate’, confirming that his national observational eye remains firmly in place.

Otherwise the favourites come thick and fast: What Katie Did is teased long before its arrival to a thunderously grateful crowd; Last Of The English Roses, stripped of its dubby production, is contemplative while Killamanjiro loses little of its bombast even stripped down, and fan favourite French Dog Blues, complete with a snippet of Ian Brown’s Deep Pile Dreams, also goes down well.

But the best moment of the night comes from his state of the nation address: Albion. One can only imagine the fun Peter Doherty has had shoehorning the places he is playing into the lyrics (fortunately Bristol is referenced in the recorded version) but regardless, its still his masterpiece.

Unfortunately for him, the lifelong Libertine is upstaged by his dog Gladys who at every given opportunity prowls the stage, winning hearts and minds throughout the venue, very nearly stealing the show from her master.

Witnessing this amusing and heart-warming spectacle is a reminder that Peter Doherty, whether as a solo artist or in one of his bands, is an utterly unique British talent.


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