Live Review: The Libertines bring All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade tour to sold-out O2 Academy in Birmingham

The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Following a jaunt around some of the UK’s more intimate venues at the start of the year, The Libertines are back on the road and played a sold-out headline show at Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Thursday.

Armed with their latest album, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, the band are enjoying a bit of a ‘purple patch’ on the back of some of the best music they’ve written in 20 years and equally impressive live performances.

Everyone knows the back story by now, but to recap in the simplest way, The Libertines emerged around the turn of the century and helped give the indie music scene the adrenaline boost it needed following the demise of a Britpop scene which had long become dull and stagnated.

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Almost a quarter of a century on, a cursory look at any given venue’s gig lists will reveal many bands from the era are still plugging away to - let’s be honest – somewhat diminishing audiences.

The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

Not The Libertines though. The collective of Carl Barât, Peter Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell have sold out almost every date of their UK tour – with only the presumably stubborn people of Stockton denying the band a clean sweep.

Without wanting to get sidetracked, it does make you wonder if The Libertines could be playing something bigger than c.3,000 cap venues.

However, anyone who has seen the band at any point over the last quarter of a century will attest the quartet thrive in small sweaty venues – not soulless arenas.

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Back to the gig. Joining The Libertines in Birmingham were alternative trio Hot Wax, Short Straw and Laurie Wright – with the latter putting in a double shift as stage crew set up between the other opening acts.

The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

As fans awaited the arrival of The Libertines, the eagle eyed of those on the front barrier will have spotted Peter’s dog Gladys having a quick wander around ahead of the band arriving on stage – presumably to give things a final once over.

When The Libertines appear, they’re met with cheers from the capacity crowd and kicked straight into The Delaney – an early 2000s b-side before heading into What Became Of The Likely Lads.

Tonight’s set is dominated by tracks from their latest album and their acclaimed debut Up The Bracket, with a brief foray into their second self-titled record.

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Anthems For Doomed Youth is almost entirely shunned, with only Gunga Din eventually getting an outing.

The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

The Libertines have always been centred around the chemistry between guitarists and singers Carl and Peter and in 2024, that magic is still there.

Undeniably, the chaos and unpredictability often associated with The Libertines has been dialled down in recent years.

You can (probably) get a way with being a shambles in your 20s. Maybe not in your 40s.

However, this doesn’t mean the excitement has gone away.

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The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
The Libertines on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

Crowd and band sing along as one for What Katy Did and an extended drum solo by Powell whipped up the Birmingham crowd ahead of The Good Old Days.

Shiver is probably one of the best ‘latter day’ songs The Libertines have written and twin guitars of Carl and Peter clashing against each other as they share vocal duty is one of the stand-out moments of the night.

New slower tracks like Merry Old England and Mustangs also easily hold their own sandwiched either side of Horrorshow.

There’s little chatter from the band during their set. Bassist Hassall remains largely rooted to ‘stage left’ for most of the night with most eyes on Carl and Peter who frequently leave their mics, coming together inches from each other.

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The Libertines leave the stage after Can’t Stand Me Now before returning for a SEVEN SONG encore (When does an encore become just a latter gig break…)

However, there’s little time for slowing down with the likes of Time For Heroes and Don’t Look Back Into The Sun.

Hot Wax on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Hot Wax on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Hot Wax on stage at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

It’s been said countless times before, but the songwriting partnership of Carl Barât and Peter Doherty is one of the best this country has ever produced and that was exemplified in Birmingham.

What’s next – well there’s a suspicion 2025 will see the return of Doherty’s other band Babyshambles who you can bet will also be playing to sold out venues up and down the UK.

The Libertines played:

The Delaney

What Became of the Likely Lads

Boys in the Band

What Katie Did

The Good Old Days

Up the Bracket

Vertigo

Shiver

Night of the Hunter

Merry Old England

Death on the Stairs

Music When the Lights Go Out

Horrorshow

I Have a Friend

Mustangs

Run Run Run

Can't Stand Me Now

Encore:

Man With the Melody

Oh S***

Gunga Din

Last Post on the Bugle

Time for Heroes

Songs They Never Play on the Radio

Don't Look Back Into the Sun

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