Two Gigs over the Summer

I went to two gigs over the summer and they both featured Peter Doherty. 

First of all, he played a solo gig in Sheffield, at Crookes Social Club, which was the most random venue ever, but fine. I would have gone by myself but then my friend Jo messaged me and asked if I wanted to go, so I of course said yes and got us two tickets. On the day itself, I drove to Jo's house near Meadowhall and she drove us to Crookes because she knew the area better than I did. We managed to park just opposite the tour bus, and then we went and joined the queue. We wanted to be there early to get seats. We got in, at first looked at the seats at the back, but then went and sat on one of the banquettes down the side, so we weren't too far from the stage. The club has a distinct 1970s faded air to it, but that kind of suits Peter perfectly so I wasn't too fussed. 

I met Jo through The Libertines and we were at York St John at the same time twenty years ago, but I hadn't seen her in about ten years. So it was nice to catch up! Peter came on first and played three songs, to warm himself and the crowd up, and then there was a support guy who was fine, I guess, nothing too offensive. Jo and I chatted. Then Peter and his band came on! There was Mike Joyce from the Smiths playing drums which was quite exciting, he was good. The set was really fun and joyful and I had a really good time. I bought a t shirt on the way out in this gorgeous purple colour, and Jo got a different one. 

Two weeks later, I saw The Libertines at The Piece Hall in Halifax. I had arranged to go with Lucinda and Sam, ages ago, so the three of us sorted out when and where to meet in Halifax on the Friday. Lucinda arrived into Barnsley train station so I went to pick her up, and then we got some lunch and ate that at my house before Lee took us to the village station for a train to Huddersfield. We had over 40 minutes to wait before our train to Halifax so we left the station and went to the Hive opposite for a drink. It's a workers co op and I had heard of it but I had never been before. It's really LGBTQ+ inclusive and cool so I would love to go back to eat there. I had a hot chocolate which was nice.

We went back into the station and caught our train to Halifax. It was better for me to not have to worry about parking in Halifax as I don't know it very well. We had arranged to go to a Sri Lankan restaurant a bit of a walk away so Lucinda and I got into a taxi to go up there as Halifax is all hills and I knew I couldn't walk up that far. We were a bit early so we hung around on the street for a few minutes before it opened. 

My friend Courtney was visiting from Texas to see the Libs and we had talked about eating together, but she decided to stay close to the Piece Hall. But then my friend Rachael was around so I told her to come up, and she ended up meeting Sam on the way up so they arrived together! 

The restaurant was really lovely but service was really slow which was annoying. I had a mojito which was somehow too sugary and minty at the same time, and jackfruit biryani. I don't really like jackfruit - I've tried it a few times but it's just not for me. But it was the only veggie option on the menu. I did enjoy the rice and the curry and the egg on top, I just left most of the jackfruit. 

When we had finished it was maybe 6.30ish so we all headed down to the Piece Hall. I've been a bunch of times but not for ages, and not as a gig venue. Sam had been though so she knew how it worked and where the benches are etc. The three of us had a different entrance to Rachael but then they let us all go in at hers, which was good and better for me as I'd walked a long way by then. We got in and found two benches to sit on the ends of. 

Rachael went off for a drink and discovered there was churro stall! All gigs should have churro stalls! She brought a portion back for us to share, they were delicious. The first support act was a young woman and she was kind of fine, nothing offensive. Peter came on stage to sell copies of his zine so Rachael skipped off to get one for me, I really wanted a copy of the first one but wasn't able to, so I'm excited for the second one.

The second support act were called Gans and they were pretty terrible and far too bass heavy. I read my book on my tablet. The sun had gove from above so it wasn't too warm, so I was glad I had taken a jumper and my hoodie to sit on. I had them both on by the time the Libs came on at 9pm. 

They were really good - they were fast and tight and sounded good. Carl was in a good mood which seemed to lift everyone else too. But they had only been playing for a bit when they had to go offstage for some reason... Which was weird. It turned out some people at the front were being crushed so they wanted to make sure there wasn't any injuries or anything of course. The Libs came back on only a few minutes later and didn't appear to miss anything out of their set, which was good. I enjoyed it, especially being with Sam and Lucinda (Rachael had found herself a spot much nearer the front). 

Afterwards we met up with Sarah and Courtney and spoke for a few minutes before heading to the train station where we had a taxi booked. Courtney was staying in Huddersfield so she came with us. I haven't seen her in about fifteen years! Lee picked me and Lucinda up in Huddersfield - thankfully, as the last trains are so early, it's ridiculous. We just went to bed when we got back! 

I love this band so much, and a lot of their solo stuff, and I will say it every time that I would not be the same person without them. I wouldn't know Lucinda OR Sam OR Rachael - I met them all online 20 years ago when I got into the Libs and I love them all so much and it was so good to go to a gig with them!

Here's a bunch of photos:

Peter at the beginning doing his warm up three songs. I could honestly listen to him play most songs by himself on a guitar

And here he is with the full band

Here's my t shirt, which I have worn a couple of times but haven't managed to get a photo of it worn yet

Then two weeks later:

Here's Lucinda and I on the train to Huddersfield

Here is me, Cinders, Rachael and Sam in the restaurant 

My hot chocolate in the Hive

Weird mojito... we had some wine in the gig too

My curry, glad I went for the egg on it

Churros with Nutella! Delicious! I could have eaten them all but didn't 

Just as the band came on

Getting a bit darker...

And so on! 

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

Two Gigs in Leeds

So now to Thursday of my week off! And to the reason why Lucinda was coming down in the first place, before I got a table at Edinburgh Zine Fest - The Libertines! They were playing a series of gigs in tiny venues including The Wardrobe in Leeds, a place I've been a few times and really like as a venue. She was in charge of getting tickets months ago and she had a bit of a nightmare doing so but then we had two tickets confirmed! So when I then got offered a table at the Zine Fest I asked to stay with Cinders and we had it all planned! 

Then just a week or two before the gig, the Libertines announced they were playing an afternoon acoustic show at The Wardrobe. Of course we wanted to go! So I got three tickets and my mum came along, and Sam got herself a ticket too, and I knew other people who would be there too. Lucinda and I were very excited! There are few bands I would see twice in one day but the Libs are at the top of that list!

We set off around 11.45 and headed to Lupe's Cantina which is in the total opposite direction than the Wardrobe but we wanted Mexican food. We had talked about getting it in Edinburgh but then it was Pancake Day so we had pancakes instead. I've heard good things about Lupe's so we parked close by and went in. We shared guacamole and salsa and chips to start with, and then Lucinda had fish tacos and I had quesedillas. They were perfectly nice quesedillas but a bit boring. Oh well! It was cheap which was good.

We drove round to Victoria car park and walked across to The Wardrobe. Peter and his dog were wandering about outside and inside the bar, cute! We met up with Sam and my mum and Rachael and then Rachael went to join the queue. I didn't have a space in the disabled area but I did manage to get in the queue to be let down early so I could get a seat at the other side, so that was really useful! So then Peter and his dog (Gladys) were wandering around downstairs so we went to talk to him! It was really lovely! I've been a fan for nearly two decades and have met the rest of the band but hadn't ever met Peter so it was nice. I told him it was a pleasure and he tipped his hat at me. He also liked my Care Bears t shirt. He had to go quite quickly but it was nice to speak to him.

The afternoon show was pretty sedate as Libertines gigs go but still a bit loopy. My mum and Sam enjoyed themselves and so did I. And Lucinda of course! They played a few songs and finished about 5pm. Lucinda and I sat in the bar and had a couple of drinks and shared some loaded fries, before going back downstairs at 7.30ish. The support bands were nothing to write home about but passed quickly enough, and then the Libertines were great! I really enjoyed myself. Lucinda stood quite close to the front and I joined her towards the end. It was such an intimate show in such a small venue; I loved it.

Afterwards we caught up with some friends before Lucinda drove us home as I was in a lot of pain. As you can see by my final selfie, my hair was all over the place because it was so humid in the Wardrobe. 

Chips and salsa and guacamole! All delicious!

The beautiful Cinders and I

Quesedillas

Fish tacos - these looked amazing!

Sign on the door at the Wardrobe before we went downstairs

Here's me and Peter - he was happier to talk to us than this photo might suggest, I promise

Sam took this of all four of us before the gig started

Not all these photos are mine, but this was definitely the afternoon because Carl is wearing this baker boy cap. Some of the photos are Sam's

Peter on the left there

Carl and John

All of them posing for Gary's camera. Even though it was an 'acoustic' set it was all four of them and still pretty loud

Peter again

And John

And Carl!

This was the evening because Carl is wearing the bowler hat

Here he is singing, just the mic

And later when Carl shed at least some layers... he always wears a lot of layers

From Lucinda's vantage point right at the left of the stage

I was standing here by the end, it was plenty close enough!

Adorable boys taking a bow at the end. The steam was literally rising off Gary

And here I am back at home with incredibly fluffy hair