The Waterfront, Norwich
The Waterfront, Norwich
Despite the ongoing tabloid saga that is Pete Doherty's life, last year's Babyshambles debut showed that in the wake of The Libertines' split he continued to be a thrilling, if chaotic, musical proposition.
Now, Dirty Pretty Things, formed by his erstwhile partner Carl Barat from the ashes of their former group, strike out amid talk of a harder, more refined take on The Libertines' raucous rock blueprint.
Opener Dead Wood set both the tone and pace of the evening, being a frenetic, shout-along number played with clattering abandon.
Their heritage provides this band with a ready-made audience offering devotion, and judging by the recurring chants of 'Gary!' a fair share of it is reserved for their authoritatively snapping drummer. The interlocking ska/thrash/kids TV theme groove of Gentry Grove, along with the ramshackle lurch of Gin And Milk showed this is entirely justified.
The overall tightness and assurance of Dirty Pretty Things bodes well for the future, and Carl Barat last night proved that while he presumably could get arrested if necessary, it is not a prerequisite for great rock'n'roll.
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