Dirty Pretty Things: Concert Review

As Carl Barât chanted "You Fucking Love It" at a crowd in the Academy last night, one had to concede that he was only telling the truth.

While I had yet to see any former-Libertines play live, there was a certain amount of expectation for the evening. The day started out quite well as my friends and I became "those fans" who push their way into a meal the band is having for a picture opportunity. But despite our boldness, Carl, Didz and Anthony were extremely polite and quite literally jumped at the chance to meet fans. As we left the café, a friend of mine suggested that they "give us a good show". It seems that they took this to heart.

The band tore through an excellent set that combined both their old classics and new material from the upcoming album "Romance at Short Notice". While it is very difficult to choose a highlight of the evening, "Deadwood" and "B.U.R.M.A." stand out as points of focus. But of course, the new material is certainly of note. These fresh tracks were spread out perfectly to ensure the best reception from the crowd. While I did have doubts about the upcoming material, those worries have been firmly pushed aside by the carefree and exciting manner in which they were delivered.

Also, the stage presence of Dirty Pretty Things must be mentioned in any review of their live performance. Each band member firmly commanded their area of the stage, creating quite a live spectacle. While attention was being paid to the band overall, Carl Barât lead the Dirty Pretty Things as an amazing front man. His on stage eloquence and obvious emotional connection to his music all contributed to create a truly amazing show.

Between my friends and I, we left the Academy with two drumsticks, a t-shirt and a picture with the band. But most importantly, we left with the knowledge that the future of British rock music is still in safe hands.

-The English Student