Thursday, 26 May 2011
last of the english roses?
Pete Doherty returned to Newcastle last week, as part of his first solo tour since reforming The Libertines last year. The two support acts, comedian Raymond Mearns and singer Alan Wass, were jeered off stage by an impatient crowd, and gave way to Doherty who eventually arrived on stage at 10pm.
Despite the seemingly long wait, Doherty did not disappoint. Renditions of classic Libertines' songs such as Don't Look Back Into The Sun set the crowd into a period of disorder with many fans being removed from the crowd and a large proportion of the 2000+ fans' underwear being thrown onto the stage.
The stage itself was simple; a table consisting of gin, cigarettes and two candles set the ambience of Pete's performance exquisitely. Two ballerinas accompanied Doherty for the more emotionally intimate songs, perfectly complimenting the acoustic set.
The hour-and-a-half long set proved a hit with the crowd, who were left begging for more after his final piece (a rendition of the Beatles 'Twist and Shout' followed by a beautifully reinterpretation of Fuck Forever) instigated a sense of hysteria amongst his fans.
Although singing along throughout, I can't help but feel that I have outgrown Doherty. In a 2004 interview with Garry Mulholland (of the Guardian), Peter assured fans that he was going to 'knock crack and heroin on the head' and complained of how he was 'fucking bogged down in being Peter Libertine: The Rehab King'. Yet almost 8 years on, Pete was jailed for possession of cocaine only last week - 22 May 2011 - after numerous charges of possession of Class A drugs. Mulholland described Pete as an 'outstanding singer-songwriter and charismatic poet-vagabond', none of which can be disputed, but his hope of Doherty leaving his ironic libertine lifestyle behind him is well and truly non-existant.
Despite the seemingly long wait, Doherty did not disappoint. Renditions of classic Libertines' songs such as Don't Look Back Into The Sun set the crowd into a period of disorder with many fans being removed from the crowd and a large proportion of the 2000+ fans' underwear being thrown onto the stage.
The stage itself was simple; a table consisting of gin, cigarettes and two candles set the ambience of Pete's performance exquisitely. Two ballerinas accompanied Doherty for the more emotionally intimate songs, perfectly complimenting the acoustic set.
The hour-and-a-half long set proved a hit with the crowd, who were left begging for more after his final piece (a rendition of the Beatles 'Twist and Shout' followed by a beautifully reinterpretation of Fuck Forever) instigated a sense of hysteria amongst his fans.
Although singing along throughout, I can't help but feel that I have outgrown Doherty. In a 2004 interview with Garry Mulholland (of the Guardian), Peter assured fans that he was going to 'knock crack and heroin on the head' and complained of how he was 'fucking bogged down in being Peter Libertine: The Rehab King'. Yet almost 8 years on, Pete was jailed for possession of cocaine only last week - 22 May 2011 - after numerous charges of possession of Class A drugs. Mulholland described Pete as an 'outstanding singer-songwriter and charismatic poet-vagabond', none of which can be disputed, but his hope of Doherty leaving his ironic libertine lifestyle behind him is well and truly non-existant.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Geordie Shore
I have never been an enormous fan of reality TV shows. The first few series of Big Brother were more than enough for me. However, when a program about my own region was to be broadcast on MTV, I decided it would be simply ignorant not to indulge. Having never been a victim of the illustrious Jersey Shore- on which Geordie Shore was based- my expectations were fairly ambivalent.
The first program, however, was worse than anyone could ever have envisaged. Eight of the fakest human beings that I have ever laid eyes on entered the Geordie Shore house, with expectations of getting their 'tash on' with fellow housemates (translation=kiss). The four girls spoke of their desire to have sex with seemingly anything that moves. And the four male specimen (although perhaps Greg, less so) were on the prowl for something to 'bang' or to 'smash' - not leaving a lot to the imagination. Overall the show portrayed Newcastle in a horrendous light, giving the impression that 'Geordie' girls are, to put it quite simply, just interested in getting drunk and having sex, nothing more, nothing less. The 'true Geordie' males on the other hand, seem to have no occupation nor aspiration to do anything except apply fake tan and buy protein shakes with their dole money. The apathy of the cast towards anything which doesn't involve "getting on it like a car bonnet" infuriated me and the program further echoed my distaste for reality TV shows. I thought Cheryl Cole was embarrassing enough for our region, but apparently not. I can't begin to imagine how proud their parents must be feeling right now.
The first program, however, was worse than anyone could ever have envisaged. Eight of the fakest human beings that I have ever laid eyes on entered the Geordie Shore house, with expectations of getting their 'tash on' with fellow housemates (translation=kiss). The four girls spoke of their desire to have sex with seemingly anything that moves. And the four male specimen (although perhaps Greg, less so) were on the prowl for something to 'bang' or to 'smash' - not leaving a lot to the imagination. Overall the show portrayed Newcastle in a horrendous light, giving the impression that 'Geordie' girls are, to put it quite simply, just interested in getting drunk and having sex, nothing more, nothing less. The 'true Geordie' males on the other hand, seem to have no occupation nor aspiration to do anything except apply fake tan and buy protein shakes with their dole money. The apathy of the cast towards anything which doesn't involve "getting on it like a car bonnet" infuriated me and the program further echoed my distaste for reality TV shows. I thought Cheryl Cole was embarrassing enough for our region, but apparently not. I can't begin to imagine how proud their parents must be feeling right now.
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