Doherty, sound off

Doherty, sound off

The bad boy of rock's intimate unplugged gig made for an unforgettable performance — and hopefully was a sign of a turnaround for the troubled singer

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

With two studio albums with The Libertines and three with Babyshambles, Pete Doherty has been heralded as a modern day poet and the epitome of a rock'n'roll bad boy. But his fame has been most related to his high-profile love life, legal troubles and heroin addiction.

Pete Doherty performing at Moose in Ekamai, on Thursday.

Recently, the members of The Libertines were in Thailand, where they signed a major label contract with Virgin EMI, and announced they would release a long-awaited third album in 2015.

Doherty is no stranger to Thailand. He's been in and out of rehabilitation centres in the country to attempt to kick his drug habit. Reportedly he is now clean, and putting his tumultuous past to rest.

His surprise, small acoustic set on Thursday at the cosy Moose bar in Ekamai was possibly his hats-off moment to Thailand. The gig was announced on Monday, four days before the gig, with 300 tickets available at 300 baht a pop.

In 20 minutes, tickets were swept up, causing a bit of drama. Bidders were offering up to 4,000 baht for one ticket, but no one seemed to want to give theirs up. Clearly, it was Doherty's wish to keep the gig small and ticket prices low.

Thai music fans have long been obsessed with The Libertines and Babyshambles — as well as Pete Doherty himself — so it wasn't unpredictable to see people scrambling for tickets, and an audience of diehard fans who knew every word of every song by heart. Hopefuls waited outside the doors on the slim chance of being allowed entry, but Moose was at its full capacity even with all the tables removed.

You could almost see the excitement lingering in the air, with chatter and cigarette smoke wafting about. The balcony was packed, and getting inside was near impossible as patient fans crammed in, patiently waiting for Doherty, who was scheduled to play at 10.30pm. Inside, the air was hot and thick. The organisers were kind enough to clear out the downstairs garden, where chairs and a TV were placed for those who couldn't handle the overcrowded situation.

The Doherty who walked onstage wasn't he same man we have seen for the past decade. This wasn't a gaunt, sickly Doherty, but rather a healthy-looking, smiling man with a bit of meat on his bones. He even took time to take photos with his screeching fans at the end of the gig.

Doherty came equipped with only his acoustic guitar and towering height, and appeared to be in a jolly mood. He churned the crowd into a frenzy with Don't Look Back Into The Sun, and serenaded them with Libertines numbers like Death On The Stairs, What Katie Did, Music When The Lights Go Out and Last Post On The Bugle. Favourites from his Babyshambles and solo days like F*** Forever, The Lover and Last Of The English Roses also made appearances.

It was quite a smart move to keep the gig small and intimate — this was the kind of show for hardcore fans who appreciated the stripped down, no-frills performance; those who have lived with his songs for a long time, knowing all the lyrics and having studied the meaning behind them. Doherty played breezily, with light vocals, in stark contrast to the unbearable heat in which he played. The atmosphere was heightened because of the devotion and excitement of his fans. Casual fans would probably have found it a little less charming, but such a charged-up environment is always good fun.

As of now, the wait is on: Will Doherty's next visit to Thailand be to perform with The Libertines or to make another run at rehab?

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