On the 6th of December, The Libertines took their UK tour to Manchester Academy, supported by The Dead Freights, Trampolene and Ed Cosens. Not even the avalanche of hailstones that clattered to the ground as the fans lined up outside the venue could dimmish the contagious buzz of excitement. As two and a half thousand people began to fill the venue, ornamented with a neon 'libertine' sing that hung at the back of the stage, the intensity of exhilaration tripled. Selling out venues with their timeless records and sporting their classic newsboy caps, The Libertines are back where they belong.

Once the crowd had gathered to the front of the venue with drinks clasped in their hands, the first supporting band took to the stage. The Dead Freights' set was infused with sophisticated yet grungy guitar solos, enchanting and subtly eery vocals that ricocheted around the room, thick bass lines and authoritative drumbeats which came together to craft a powerful classic rock sound, wholeheartedly unique to them, that formed a pounding in your chest. The punk rock tracks were drenched in social commentary, poetry, and originality, which commanded the crowd's attention. It was evident that the band felt at one with the music from the hypnotic movement created with their bodies and instruments that had a dance-like quality.

A song they introduced as 'The Girlfriend Experience' was particularly high in dynamism. As the green lights moved in flashes across the stage in time with the track's rhythm, the powerful intro instigated heads to bang and bodies to groove. Another song the band performed was the experimental dark and grungy 'Sufferin' Safari,' a jocular play on 'Surfin Safari' by The Beach Boys. The energetic guitar riff, vocal harmonies and playful yet moody lyricism throughout was compelling and made for an engaging record with a devilish charm. The way the band move on stage, their close bond with one another and their genre-defying and sonically hypnotic musicality is what makes The Dead Freights such an entrancing band to watch. They are a band who demonstrate just how special live music is.

The second support act was welsh alternative rock band Trampolene. The stage went into a blackout as 'Artwork of Youth,' a powerful spoken word track, came blaring through the speakers. As the trio emerged onto the stage to 'Gotta Do More Gotta Be More,' a heavy stream of consciousness with an electronic ambience, dim blue backlights faintly illuminated their silhouettes. Jack Jones, the lead vocalist, wearing a raincoat the colour of mustard, held a signpost that displayed Manchester's iconic bee symbol. The theatrical entrance was juxtaposed by the high energy track which followed, titled 'Shoot The Lights.' The song, written about being trapped indoors with the person you love, is dark and moody in nature, disguised by the upbeat melody.

Another song in their set, 'Beautiful Pain,' began as a gentle and elegiac ballad which built into something intricate, optimistic and anthemic, combining auditory representations of both the pain and joy of falling hopelessly in love. The word 'sunrise' is repeated throughout, which paired with warm yellow lighting that hit the band like morning sunlight through a window created a powerful visual.

Trampolene closed their set with 'Storm Heaven,' a song for anyone who has lost someone. The song was the epitome of a dirty, gritty rock song and was made to be performed live. It featured big and noisy guitar solos which filled the room with the sound of intense instrumentation.

Shortly after Trampolene’s departure, the evening's third and final support act and self-proclaimed "calm before the storm," Ed Cosens took the stage. Accompanied by his acoustic guitar and illuminated by warm yellow spotlights, he began to play the gentle and mystical melody of 'The River,' the opening song of his three-track set. It tells a love-lorn tale of a choice between two paths and its storybook-like lyricism took the audience on an escapade. 'The River' was followed by 'Madeline,' written about the perverse passions of unchecked love. Ed closed his short but sweet set with an equally profound and expressive track titled 'Fortunes Favour.' The song, delicately crafted with rhetorical questions such as "will you be my hope again?" and "will you take my hand?" formed a sense of peace that washed over the audience.

However, the peaceful atmosphere was short-lived. As the neon sign began to glow, The Libertines bounded onto the stage and an eruption of beer thrown from plastic cups came down on the audience like a sticky showering of rain. From the emphatic reaction of the crowd, it is undeniable that the libertines continue to embody the edge and riotous nature they are best known for.

The opening track and debut single 'What a Waster' is a quintessential and classic English indie rock track that the crowd went wild for. Another fan favourite was 'What Katie Did.' Couples held each other as they devotedly sang along to the softly anthemic melody that matched the volume of the band's vocals, which reverberated from the speakers. As the set continued, the frantic energy emitted from the crowd harmonised with the band's vibrant performances of noisy singalongs 'Can't Stand Me Now', 'Barbarians' and 'Boys in the Band.' Each song flowed seamlessly into the next, upholding their cohesive and flawless sound.

After what was perhaps one of the most extended encores in the history of live music, which served a drug-related purpose, The Libertines returned to the stage. It didn't take long for the first track of the encore, 'The Delaney,' to snap up the crowd's attention. Followed by 'Frame and Fortune' and 'Death on The Stairs,' both the crowd and the band were in their element. The penultimate song of the night was 'Don't Look Back into the Sun,' a beloved track by all indie disco fanatics. The opening and instantly recognisable riff raised the vivacity in the room to an incommunicable level. The atmosphere can only be experienced at a jam-packed music venue crowded by fans singing along to every word with their entire chest.

The closing track 'Time for Heroes' and opportunity for one final dance was dedicated by frontman Peter Doherty to Franny Lee, Denis Law and Johnny Marr. As the stage lights faded into darkness, the crowd began to exit the venue clambering over a sea of empty plastic cups that lay on top of an alcohol-soaked floor: an aftermath that evidences a phenomenal night.

THE LIBERTINES: MANCHESTER, UK - 06.12.21