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PETER DOHERTY
Nambucca, London 5 February 2012

Sunday night at a packed out Nambucca saw a typically dishevelled Peter Doherty take the stage for a hastily arranged acoustic set; one for which he was, amazingly, on time (he was over 4 hours late at one recent gig north of the border, and last year I caught him in Camden where he arrived over an hour late in spite of then living opposite the venue!).

Consisting of a mix of old and new songs, the set got off to a good start with 'Sheepskin Tearaway', which was well received by the loyal crowd followed by an untitled new song.

A brief swig of whisky (something he was to do with increasing frequency as the gig wore on) and he was joined by Suzi Martin for 'Bird Cage', a new song this time with a title, before going through a couple of Libertine songs.

More often on the front pages of newspapers for all the wrong reasons, this set reminded anyone who may have forgotten, just what a talented songwriter Peter Doherty is, something which his loyal fans don't need reminding of.
 

Following a cover of Talking Heads' 'Psycho Killer' and the Babyshambles crowd-pleaser 'Beg, Steal or Borrow', Peter was then joined on stage by his long time friend and collaborator, Peter Wolfe (of Wolfman) for a few songs including 'Siberian Fur' and 'For Lovers'.

A couple more classics, the Babyshambles' 'Killimangiro' and The Libertines' 'Can't Stand Me Now' and Peter was off to a rousing reception from the crowd, who of course wanted and expected more.

After a seemly interval, Peter returned to the stage accompanied by former Babyshambles band member (and the venue owners' daughter) Gemma Clarke on drums for an encore that kicked off with the rabble-rousing 'Fuck Forever', before revisiting 'Wolfman' that had been played earlier and finally finishing off with possibly one of his greatest songs, 'Albion'.

More often on the front pages of newspapers for all the wrong reasons, this set reminded anyone who may have forgotten, just what a talented songwriter Peter Doherty is, something which his loyal fans don't need reminding of. Perhaps we should all, from time to time, revisit his back catalogue.

Having now temporarily moved to France to pursue a career in acting, we have to ask ourselves; with his music, art, poetry, problematic lifestyle and now his acting, is Doherty Albion's Jacques Brel?


Set List: Sheepskin Tearaway, Untitled New Song, Bird Cage, Never Never, What A Waster, Psycho Killer, Beg, Steal Or Borrow, Siberian Fur, Wolfman, Untitled New Song, For Lovers, Killamangiro, Can't Stand Me Now. Encore: Fuck Forever, Wolfman, Albion
 

Review and photos by Bob Singleton

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