Sound Quality : A [MP3 Sourced]

Length : 36.32

01. Blackboy Lane
02. Pipe Down
03. Babyshambles
04. Stix and Stones
05. Loyalty Song
06. Killamangiro
07. 8 Dead Boys
08. Albion
09. Gang Of Gin
10. Fuck Forever

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GIGWISE Review - Catriona Shearer - 07:30 3rd May 2005

The oppressive heat inside London's ULU is down to incandescent five-piece, The Paddingtons, whose incendiary live shows have become the stuff of legend. Alan McGee signed them straight after seeing them live and today's performance is indicative of why. There's plenty of punk posturing going on from lead singer Tom, whose shredded, strident vocals are at odds with his slight frame. He bowls around the stage, tousling his already-tousled shock of blonde hair looking every inch the pop-punk idol.

Having toured extensively with close friend Pete Doherty's Babyshambles, the assembled crowd are already conversant with the edgy, raw power of The Paddingtons. The frenetic 'Tommy's Disease' demands your full attention, whilst new single 'Panic Attack', is an agitated take on mortality – a catchy unification of Libertines and Strokes proportions. They blaze through a scorching set with competence depicting what their Owen Morris-produced debut holds in store. They won't be consigned to the support slot for much longer.

Many eyes furtively scour the dark recesses of the venue for a glimpse of Kate Moss (nope, neither did we) as Babyshambles take to the stage, which is a great start; they're here. Pete's hardly the picture of the frail, gaunt 'junkie' that every red-top in town has delighted in painting recently. He looks fairly affable, but there's little audience interaction; he adopts a no-nonsense approach and launches straight into it. In fact, to begin with, it's a rather lacklustre performance. Technically, it's probably the most coherent set they've played of late; not so baby-shambles! But with that some of the impish charm and thrilling, unpredictability that marks most 'shambles gigs, is lost in translation.

It takes erstwhile single 'Killamangiro' to jolt the audience, and Pete, into action and the place comes alive; the crowd chant along, Pete orbits the stage and the obligatory crowd surfer surfaces in the middle of the throng. There's a technical problem during which Pete takes the opportunity to shake hands with the front row demonstrating the characteristic fan solidarity that Doherty's renowned for. A brief period of consultation with the band ensues onstage and they launch into a solid rendition of 'Albion'. Reminding us about the forthcoming album they've been busy recording in Wales, new songs 'Pipe Down' and 'Loyalty' are given an airing before an anthemic 'Fuck Forever' closes the set.

And just when we thought that nothing outrageous would happen, the fire alarm is activated, tinnitus-inducing ringing disorientates everyone and we're promptly evacuated onto the street. So we get our shambles after all.