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While Pete Doherty has been grabbing the nation’s headlines – mainly for all the wrong reasons, the other half of The Libertines’ song writing partnership has been recording in California and deliberately avoiding the limelight – in order to create his new musical outfit for all the right reasons. The Club That promoter Alan Day pulled a major coup in confirming the debut UK performance from Carl Barat’s Dirty Pretty Things – it was one of the most anticipated shows in UK music and subsequently the fastest sell-out ever at The Zodiac. The venue’s buzzing with Liberteenies clad in stripy sweaters, with military tunics, paisley neckties and scruffy mop-top haircuts. The over-excited teenagers are probably all far too young to have ever seen Barat’s former band, but are clearly devoted to their idol now. So, what became of the other likely lad now he’s finally emerged from his post-Libertines recuperation? With obvious early Libs influences, Barat’s slightly shambolic compositional style combines with urgent, noisy punk guitars and reggae vibes in a set brimming with soon-to-be classics - and a few ‘old’ favourites. “Does anyone like The Libertines?” quips Barat – tongue firmly in cheek as he teasingly strums the opening chords of Death On The Stairs. Performing alongside Barat was fellow former band mate Gary Powell on drums, guitarist Anthony Rossomando and latest recruit Didz Hammond on bass – who Barat lured from Reading rockers The Cooper Temple Clause. Although the super group have yet to officially release a record, online downloads of songs like Dave Sardy-produced debut single, Bang Bang You’re Dead - due April 24 on Vertigo Records – sea shanty-ish rollick Deadwood and mournful, epic b-side Gin & Milk saw several rousing sing-alongs from the 300-stong crowd. The stylish kids in the riot all scream and shout for the boys in the band, no more so than when Barat returns to the stage topless and glistening with sweat to play France, before the foursome thrash out an adrenalin-fuelled encore of I Get Along – in which the entire audience including manager Alan McGee join in with the expletive ridden chorus. While clearly captaining a very different vessel from Doherty’s notorious Babyshambles, the angry young man is still on course to follow The Libertines’ Arcadian dream aboard the good ship Albion. STOP PRESS - After selling out every date on their first tour in twenty minutes, Dirty Pretty Things have announced another jaunt calling at Oxford Brookes SU on April 21. | 
