Looking back, I should have been more excited by the prospect of seeing Carl live in my favourite little venue (as mother pointed out, if the Libs were still together you’d only be able to see them in big horrible stadiums by now). Back in the day, before seeing The Libertines, I was jumping up and down telling anyone who would listen weeks before the actual gig. I know seeing Carl is a little different from seeing The Libertines, but still, Carl was the one I couldn’t keep my eyes off, the one I was (and clearly still am) in love with. But the truth is, on Wednesday I was just scared and anxious for him. I was almost anticipating a depressing flop and I imagined it would be painful to watch. I quite like the album but it doesn’t come close to the genius (yes) of Up the Bracket. So simply put, I thought it might be crap.

As it turns out, my predictions were way off and it was glorious. You know when a gig is SO good you just can’t wipe the smile off your face and it gives you that overwhelming feeling in your chest that makes you want to jump around and do something reckless? Well this was like that. (If you are unfamiliar with this feeling, you’ve been going to the wrong gigs). We were treated to 6 Libertines songs (!), including France, Up the Bracket, What a Waster, Death on the Stairs, Don’t Look Back into the Sun AND Man Who Would Be King. Looking at the crowd, it could have been The Libertines up on stage and as for me; I had a massive smile on my face and sang every word like it was 2004. The songs sounded great – Carl’s voice is better than ever and no complaints about the band – and not for a minute did I think “I miss Pete”; I was just in awe of the beautiful, outrageously sexy and talented man on stage. I know it’s not The Libertines, but I think it’s time to accept that that ship has sailed. I don’t know how I feel about the “reunion” gigs; it seems all too soon and too forced for me. And perhaps it’s also better for Carl’s mental state not to spend too much time around Pete… (just a suggestion).

As for Carl’s own material, obviously it didn’t generate the same excitement as the opening bars of a Libs classic, however people were very respectful and even the outrageously drunk guy in front of me was singing to some of the new tracks, rather than hurling abuse and demanding more Libertines. “So long my lover” was a highlight, although the chorus is a bit too sing-along for my liking, but the way the verse flows is very legs 11, just lovely. It went down very well on Wednesday night, possibly, in part, due to the fact that everyone thinks it’s about Pete…

Conclusions of the fabulous night: Carl is still a great Libertine and doing just fine without Peter, if you would like to hear great versions of Libertines classics from the sex god himself then go to a Carl gig and Carl is still the sexiest man on earth, in fact probably the whole entire universe.

So until Pete decides to properly sort himself out and make genuine amends, I’ll keep going to the Carl gigs and listen to him playing their songs. It’s the best option we have. Let’s just not mention the album cover…