The Warlocks

'Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in space' anounces the feedback (no, not actually!). The Warlocks appear to be wraiths, sent here to concoct images of Spacemen 3 draping waves of noise over Ian Curtis. As you look around they are vague vampiric, ready to pounce as a wall of flesh; to the left Corey and Laura deliver guitar slices and keyboard tinkling respectively whilst bass and further guitar are to the right. At the back are the shadowy figures of the drummers beating out a scarily synchronized battle-drum. However, this pales in comparison to Bobby. Stood centre-stage, the driving force and spirit of the band dances in a way that would make your grandad look cool.

Song-wise they deliver a wall of sound but with the essential ingredient of a melody dug beneath it. Yearning classics such as 'Red Rooster' and 'Isolation' (not a Joy Div. cover) create a vital feeling of intimacy. "I see darkness in her eyes and darkness in her heart, oh isolation" he croons digging deep into his soul. 'Hurricaine Heart Attack' storms past played with verve by the "hurricaine dressed in black". Others follow including the fantastic 'Cosmic Letdown' but its the relentless pounding of the seemingly pupeteered drummers that is most impressive.

A short encore including 'Shake the Dope Out' (during which multiple spliffs are lit) ends with the unprecedented move of bassist Bobby Martinez handing his intsrument to me. Slightly dumbstruck I knock out a few basslines before being swamped by several punters only to emerge to find the two drummers left solely on stage in perfect unison over a perfect drum solo - the 'Phoenix' has flown.