After a showery day in London, the sun decided to play ball and put in an appearance for the big reunion, Barat and Doherty were back.
The boys opened with 'Vertigo', following a video reel that took us all down memory lane, building the feelings of nostalgia that were emanating from the crowd. We were a mixed bag of middle aged people trying to relive our teen years and those too young to have been fans first time around but who'd obviously grown up in the shadow of the hype.
Proceedings were soon called to a halt during the second song 'Boys in the Band' as security were concerned about a crush up front as well as flares being let off.
Pete Doherty urged fans to move back while drummer Gary Powell led the crowd in a chant to the White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army'.
The incident almost certainly dented the bands ability to get into their flow but they recovered well with 'The Delaney' and 'Campaign of Hate'. Doherty then dedicated 'Time for Heros' to the late Gerry Conlon.
By the time the four piece reached 'What Katy Did' and 'Can't Stand Me Now', they were in full swing and the crowd were lapping it up.
The chemistry between Doherty and Barat seemed to be lacking in the early stages of the gig, but did develop and grow over the evening and there seemed to be genuinely tender moments between the boys at times, with Barat giving Doherty a warm embrace after 'Arbeit Macht Frei'.
The gig had to be halted for a second time when over enthusiastic fans climbed the sound towers for a better view. Barat berated them telling them to get down or the 'Pigman' (Doherty) couldn't do his solo and telling them that they'd loads more to get through yet.
They closed the show with an energetic version of 'I Get Along' that saw the boys ending up on the floor in an embrace. Powell summed it up at the end by telling the crowd that they 'were all amazing' and that they 'were all Libertines'.
While they all showed signs aging, wisps of grey hair and a few extra pounds, they haven't lost their ability to bring a sanitized version of rebellion to their audience. The test will be if people continue to support them long after the novelty reunion factor has faded away.
