Saturday 12/11/05 Thee Unstrung @ Barfly, London

Tellingly, Thee Unstrung’s lethargy spreads through the room: occasional whoops come from female fans, but they die down in a strangled sort of way the minute they emerge. There’s an atmosphere that dampens any inclination to have fun, and it’s coming from the stage. The band look at each other, the floor, the drum kit, anywhere but at the audience. This would have been fine if they were magnetic enough to attract the crowd’s attention, but sadly they ain’t. Another band who’ve swallowed The Libertines whole, what they spit out afterwards is unremarkable ska-tinged rock in short, sharp chunks. They’re walking an awkward line: too simple for the intelligent end of art rock, and not simple enough for those who just want a scoop of gleeful fun.