Saturday, December 14, 2024

The Libertines in Leeds

On the 22nd of October I went to see The Libertines in Leeds with Sam and Jacqui. As you may know, they're one of my favourite bands and I like to see them often. I met Sam through them too, back on LiveJournal in 2006, if you can believe it! Jacqui isn't a fan, but she wanted to come to a gig with me and Sam so she booked a ticket with us too. We had balcony tickets at the o2 Academy in Leeds which is okay as venues go. 

So we arranged to meet up at 5pm for food before the gig. I got the train from Barnsley and walked from the station to The Light. That's a fair old walk for me but I took it slow and I was fine, I was pleased with myself! I was early so I went into Tamatanga anyway, where Sam had booked a table for us. She had been before but I never had and it sounded so good. And it was!

Sam arrived and we ordered some cocktails each, and then Jac arrived too. Tamatanga has a good vegetarian menu and a good vegan one too, so I was spoilt for choice. I went for papdi chaat and black butter lentils. They were both SO good. The chaat was spicy and cold and delicious, and the butter lentils were so good. They were almost like Dishoom's black lentils, but not quite. But very close in terms of richness and deliciousness. I had them with rice. 

After we had eaten it was around 6.15 and Sam went to go queue outside the venue. She had volunteered so that we didn't all have to (I find queueing really difficult and painful for me) which I was very grateful for. She got into the venue and got three seats on the right hand side of the balcony for us, so Jac and I followed not too long after. The venue staff let us up in the lift which was really kind of them as I hadn't booked access. We got to Sam and sat down. 

The support bands were fine. We were chatting and we had some wine which was good. Then the Libs! They had a new album out in April so it was our first chance to hear some of these songs live. They sounded really good and the whole thing was just a joy from start to finish. Jac enjoyed herself which was really good too. 

The band finished about 10.45 so we left the venue and walked down to the train station together. Sam had to get a rail replacement bus so she went off to that, and Jac and I went into the station. Again this was quite a long walk for me but I was fine as we were together and just happy after the show. Jac and I sat together for a bit before she went for her train and I waited for Lee. He didn't mind picking me up but traffic around the Academy is awful which is why I had said I would walk down to the station for him to get me there. 

I'm seeing the Libs at the very beginning of November too, so watch out for that post too! 


This was a lychee cocktail and it was nice. They were on 2 for 1 so it would have been rude not to, really


Papdi chaat to start with - the blueberries were a bit of a weird addition but okay


Black butter lentils - I could really eat these again right now


The second cocktail that Jac and I shared while we were waiting - I can't remember what it was but it was nice


Jac and I in Tamatanga before Sam left


The Libertines! This was Carl doing some singing at the front


I just love them so much


At the end just about to take a bow


Sam took this of the three of us, we're adorable! 


And Sam also took this of the outside, too, on the way out

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