By Liv Moseley

Twenty years after the Libertines’ self-titled debut album graced our ears, the boys in the band (see what I did there?) are back on stage with a vengeance for a very patient audience. Since Covid-19 complications pushed the tour back another couple of months, the long awaited show was one the people of Sheffield did not want to miss again. 

Over the last twenty-five years, the Libertines have brought us the most frantic, yet loveable form of indie-rock through their three album releases. However, this wasn’t a set of plain sailing years for the band. Amongst their huge musical success, and some of the most loyal fans in the music scene, they’ve also had their fair share of struggles. The chaotic story of frontman Pete Doherty is one that wasn’t kept quiet in the media, with his addiction and self-destructive tendencies leading to the split of the band in 2004. Since then, Pete took time to get clean, and the band reformed to release Anthems For Doomed Youth in 2015. 

Just as the doors to the O2 Academy were about to let the people of Sheffield inside, the queues backed up to the main road, and the atmosphere was already growing outside of the venue. Leicester’s very own Vona Vella opened the night with their own brand of dreamy indie pop. Frontwoman Izzy Davis, along with fellow band member Daniel Cunningham, served us the harmonies of dreams, as they took us through a joyful half hour of jazzy, upbeat, melodic pop. 

In true contrast, Southampton’s Dead Freights took to the stage in a completely different direction, bringing frantic indie-punk to the crowd. Whilst lead singer Charlie James angrily spat his lyrics at the crowd, I couldn’t help but see him as a Pete Doherty wannabe. As their set continued, I couldn’t help but revel in the angst they carry with them, it was something you just couldn’t help but hop on board with and love. 

Finally, the time came for Doherty and Co. to arrive on stage. With a noticeably casual fit, the bands presence alone brought the entire crowd to cheers of joy. The informal appearance of the band, however, did not even cross the crowd’s mind. After suffering with respiratory issues which cancelled additional tour dates at very short notice, their fans were just relieved they were in good enough health to frantically rock out in nostalgia together. 

One singular drumbeat sent the crowd into a frenzy. Their debut single, and a very popular fan favourite, What a Waster, immediately sent bodies flying throughout the crowd- it was clear that even over twenty years later, the energy and passion remained. 

They quickly moved through a crowd-pleasing list of classics such as the Ha Ha Wall, Up the Bracket, and Barbarians, before giving into the crowd and playing a real cult classic, Gunga Din. Not only is the song a compositional masterpiece, it’s an emotional recital of times for the band, following the recovery of Pete and the reformation of the band. Doherty took a back seat for a couple of verses and Barât stepped in to sing about his personal struggles. Their chemistry was rife, even after years of fallouts, it wouldn’t change their unbreakable bond. Don’t let the meaning behind this song fool you- it’s not your typical sad song, in fact I think it provoked a heightened amount of chaos amongst the indie rockers. 

The lighters were soon in the air for the most heartfelt performance of the night, You’re My Waterloo. Barât took to the piano whilst Pete put down his heavily battered electric guitar for a more delicate acoustic sound whilst he sung about his love for the band. He was not the only one who felt this love, as the swaying crowd sung back to him word for word. 

The calmness was soon enough interrupted as the boys got back into their swing of noughties classics, but the unity of the crowd did not budge. What Katie Did was one of their strongest songs of the night- one that the fan’s cheers clearly agreed with. The crowd doubled in height as every other person got onto their mates’ shoulders, singing in unity. People fell in love with the Libertines all those years ago, and that hasn’t changed. 

The band played a sweeping set, giving their fans all they could really ask for. They covered singles from all three studio albums, including all the classics, and even touching B-sides too. They closed their all-inclusive set with the Good Old Days, from their debut album. Pete sang to the crowd ‘if you’ve lost faith in love and music, the end won’t be long’, leaving a perfect Libertarian reminder to end the night on. 

Speaking of love and music, it was clear that each and every fan in the crowd had experienced something spectacular that night, singing their favourite songs with their mates in a room full of people sharing the same love for the same band. It was truly amazing to see how the love and passion remained so strong after all these years, and musically, the boys have definitely still got it!