Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond Babyshambles, Warmduscher, Another Day Middlesbrough Empire, 1 December 2025
Babyshambles I have to hold my hand up from the start, I was probably the one person in the crowd who related to Pete Doherty more for his alternative written word than his alternative music. It was a real thrill to speak fanzines to Pete when he stepped down from the stage between acts to quiz me about Fly Me To The Moon, Boro fanzine. In reply I have written to Pete to ask about his teenage QPR fanzine, All Quiet on the Western Avenue, as well as his current On Strap publication. I will let you know should I get answers in response. I am sure he will reply because he seems so sincere and committed both in his promotion of hidden writers and also in whipping up a hot bed crowd and making it a musical Monday night to remember. Kicking off this leg of the Babyshambles tour was Another Day, a young band originally from Kent, making the absolute most of the platform and leaving a big first impression. Playing chirpy indie guitar pop, with a stand up percussionist also weighing in with occasional poetic verse. The final song Merry Go Round brought the set to a fitting climax. A bouncy rhythm, a catchy chorus. Not afraid to change tempo mid song and step up or step down. The singer even did a full back flip. Fun and definitely attention grabbing.
What a support to have in Warmduscher. They drive through the gears pinning their brand to spine tingling bass and rhythms, running through a gamut of garage rock, electronica, funk and psychedelia. The mayhem is all controlled by the mad conductor up front and central, Clams Baker Jr. They soon have the whole room up and grooving. And so the sumptuous, grand Edwardian stage is set for My Pete Doherty and Babyshambles. There are loud roars as the man in the trilby hat, steps out. Looking tall and lean, Pete talks Ironopolis, he has learned his Boro history and now he points the way backward and forward with his cane to Killamangiro. It is a bleak Monday outside in downtown Middlesbrough and the song hits home truths. A full 20 years after the release of Down In Albion every “Ohhh ohhh ohhhh” on stage is loudly chorused around the the circus ring like auditorium. There are plenty of numbers mined from the debut over the course of the set, La Belle at la Bete, Back From The Dead and of course Albion amongst them. There is time for talk as well, Pete's dog walking in town, escaping a local hard man. The music is as jaunty as the hat Pete twirls on his cane as things really get going. It can all be chaotic, shambolic even but somehow it all stays together long enough to complete every song in endearing fashion. The crowd are absolutely loving the nostalgia, jumping, laughing and loudly singing along. It is not all about looking backwards, Pete's fresh start is further on show with his wife Katia de Vidas on stage for recent ska pop single, Dandy Hooligan. In the encore Babyshambles pay their respects as they play a dedication to their former guitarist Patrick Walden who died earlier this year. We dive in back to Down In Albion and everyone but everyone is leaping around like they are seventeen again to Fuck Forever and that includes the man with the trilby and cane. A memorable Monday. Babyshambles brought the Middlesbrough Empire house down. Words: Robert Nichols Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman