Key: * = the terrible sound quality. All will become clear...

We arrived a little late to the venue and so caught only the last three numbers by The Rapture which is a shame because I was looking forward to seeing the band. The first thing that struck me was *. Apart from this I noticed that The Rapture had a hybrid thing going with the Cure/Gang Of Four/Happy Mondays all in there. They were not as jagged and spikey as on the records but this was probably *. They only played a forty minute set as did most bands on the bill to suit the live broadcast on MTV. I later deduced that this live broadcast was the reason for *.

I did not enjoy The Thrills very much. They struck me as being a little like The Bluetones without the fragile tunes but as ever I should add the caveat *. I only really enjoyed the final song  - Santa Cruz.

A friend of mine adds "a bit dull when you know The Darkness are next." Which segways neatly to...

The cheek!

And you know what, I enjoyed their set a lot. They were really fresh and, well, innocent. In five years time their stadium shows will be crap but I was thoroughly entertained at this gig. Good tunes beneath it all.

Wait for the bandwagon bands to bore the pants off us for the next couple of years however.

Potentially a great band. Singer has a wonderful voice and he really works it over. Fantastic bass player - I could have sworn it was Wayne Rooney slapping away up there. The * made them more of a shoegazing band than I suspect they are in other circumstances. I guess they are normally harder-edged. And so young! Recommended.

Perry Farrell is pretty magnetic as a performer. He moved like a ballet dancer in his pink tracksuit jodhpurs. Unfortunately JD's complex songs translated terribly on the night *. Perry's soft voice could not be heard either. What a shame for an excellent band. The show made me want to go back and listen to their records which I guess is the idea. However, I left before the end of their set in disgust at * and have subsequently written to MTV about the rip-off of paying for a ticket in order to be audience-fodder on TV. I am a bitter man -but you dance with the devil...