There was mimicking galore at the announcement of the three headliners at Reading & Leeds Festival this year but no one frowned at the prospect of welcoming Carl Barat and Pete Doherty back to the main stage. Not only are The Libertines musical legends capable of putting out quality gear to the masses (and into their veins
The band are back, clean and ready to right their wrongs from a dreadful 2010 slot and have a new album under their belt (I’ve had a listen and it’s flawless) and a childlike energy for live shows. The crowd was built up of those old enough to remember the 90s and a fair few teenagers that were too scared for the raucous Radio 1extra stage hosting BBK. The band’s entrance exudes swagger and mirth, with Doherty’s first call into the crowd is “Are The Libertines cool in Berkshire?”. The answer is Fuck Yes.
The insanity began when lifelong pals Pete and Carl faced away from the crowd and slap out the beginning of ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’. After around five days of heavy, heavy intoxication not one camper at Reading can mutter a sentence without a splutter- during The Libertines’ set you would have no idea. As a whole, the band played with care and respect to their back catalog with well thought out vocals and riffs. The Libertines allowed the crowd to add the anarchy. Throughout the weekend a few well timed flares were let off, but none more appropriate than during Doherty’s messy band of brothers. The sky filled with red smoke as the sounds that saved millennial indie play to a vicious crowd.
Highlights of the evening were the select cuts from Anthems For Doomed Youth. Gunga Din, the glossy fuckabout is electric- clearly doing it’s job for a lead single. You’re My Waterloo, the only moment the band take it easy, was utterly mesmerising as Pete Doherty showed us despite the rehab, prison, addiction, fallouts and the implants, he still has it.
The boys finished their set with a full on version of Don’t Look Back Into The Sun. Drummer Gary (who looks like the main geez from Death Grips) piggy backed Pete Doherty and screamed “Never forget you are all Libertines”. It’s clichéd and filled with bravado, howeve
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