Ever the optimist, even though for years I’ve loved everything about him, I didn’t expect much from a Pete Doherty gig, or Peter, as he now likes to be formally known as. Having already rescheduled the Irish tour, I was surprised he even showed up at all, however, he strolled on stage, totally sober with not a care in the world. He was strangely oblivious to the roaring crowd, he seemed aloof and with a somewhat lonely air about him for a man who had a room full of people who worship him.
After years of tabloid scandals, arrests, break ups, and generally a drug fuelled existence spread across the papers for us all to look upon and judge, it is strange to see him standing on stage, stripped down, guitar in hand, just doing what he is best at. Despite all the antics he is an amazing songwriter, a tortured poet that has fuelled a generation of people to follow in his footsteps.
Here he looks focused, but vulnerable, as he begins. He could have been singing to himself rather than a packed out Academy full of screaming fans, all in adoration of this one man, who never addressed them once. The set is intense, Peter plays hit after hit, with weirdly out of place ballerinas dancing beside him.
He played a back catalogue of iconic songs such as What Katie Did, Can’t Stand me now, For Lovers, Time For Heroes, What A Waster, and my personal favorite Albion and when he eventually came back after an impromptu break, Fuck Forever. Some of the crowd left thinking he had walked off stage but he came back to finish the set which also included a beautiful rendition of Tears Dry on Their Own, A touching tribute to the late Amy Winehouse.
This performance leaves nobody with any illusions; it showcases what a talent Peter Doherty is. However troubled, it is undeniable, he is one of the few original artists, surviving in a world of manufactured pop and Simon Cowell. Reality TV has destroyed music and it is refreshing to see a real musician stay true to what he is. Whatever his flaws, you have to love him, and after the tragic demise of the great Amy, it is great to see him cleaning up his act. It was a humble, fragile performance that he pulled off wonderfully, he may not be at the top of his game, but I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Peter Doherty yet.