Artist: Carl Barat
Venue: Koko, Camden, London
Date: 4th April 2011
Mondays are definitely not my favourite night for gigs but, for Carl Barat and the promise of his show being ‘special’, I braved the cold weather and made my way to London’s KoKo. The venue was originally opened as a theatre in 1900 and was an idyllic setting for Barat’s new sound.
The ex-Libertine (and Dirty Pretty Thing) frontman opened the show with ‘Regrette, Je Regrette’ from his self titled debut album. He was joined on stage by the impressive Langley Sisters’ with their beautiful and haunting backing vocals.
The set list was a mixed bag of songs from his solo album with the inclusion of Libertine and Dirty Pretty Things favourites; thus creating the age old situation – his faithful fans only going wild when Barat played songs from his back catalogue, with his new material failing to impress some of the Libertine diehards.
Personally, I like this new Barat. His music was honest and from the heart and somehow more ‘grown up’. Songs that particularly stuck out for me from his solo work were ‘Run with The Boys’, perhaps the closest to the Barat of old, and ‘So Long, my Lover’ a memorable ballad that was well received and includes the lyrics ‘I was reckless you were free, I took you round the world with me, So holy together, No devils could tear us apart ..’
A highlight of the evening and a delight to the crowd was when Didz Hammond joined Carl on stage for renditions of Dirty Pretty Things Bang Bang your Dead and Deadwood.
The evening’s events were rounded up brilliantly in an encore of the Libs anthem ‘Don’t Look Back into the Sun’, which had the whole of KoKo singing along ecstatically, a testament to the enduring popularity of one of the most memorable bands of the last decade. It was a brilliant finale to a great night.
Although all may not welcome Barat’s brave new direction, he should not be dismissed and Hit The Floor Magazine hand it to him for striking out in this refreshing new direction. There is no doubt that the ex-Libertine was much loved by the London crowd, who received him like an old friend so maybe it is now time for us to let go of the past and give his new music a chance.
Well worth the Monday night out and I wish Carl Barat all the best in the future!!
The full set list:
• Regrette, Je Regrette
• Run With The Boys
• The Man Who Would Be King
• (The Libertines cover)
• Carve My Name
• She’s Something
• Deadwood
• (Dirty Pretty Things cover)
• The Magus
• So Long, My Lover
• What Have I Done
• Up the Bracket
• (The Libertines cover)
• Shadows Fall
• “Ode To A Girl”
• Bang Bang You’re Dead
• (Dirty Pretty Things cover)
• Death On The Stairs
• (The Libertines cover)
• Encore:
• Don’t Look Back Into The Sun (libertines cover)
Reviewer: Julie Elford
