The Libertines Under Smoking Ban

Review: A-

I was so sur­prised to learn yes­ter­day that The Lib­ertines were play­ing at the Par­adise for only $8… surely not!

You know you’re in for a good show when the lead singer comes out and is swaying-​ly drunk before the first song – lean­ing on his micro­phone, noodling on his guitar, “D’ya fancy me?”

I bought their record on vinyl a couple of weeks ago, and I think I would describe them as an updated Clash. You could lump them in with the new crop of garage bands, (e.g., The Strokes, White Stripes, Hives, Vines, et al.), but I keep coming back to that voice – it’s Strummer-​esque.

It was also my first outing after the smoking-​ban went into effect… ug. Even the Lib­ertines couldn’t smoke, which should have seemed pretty incred­u­lous indeed.

But, after the show, every­one spilled out onto Comm. Ave, and the band lit up cigs with their fans. Pretty down to earth stuff.