Tuesday, 10/02/04 Surferosa @ Carling Academy 2, Liverpool

Norway’s Surferosa are a Friday night band. Batman had the bat cave, Superman has telephone boxes but for the rest of us poor office workers it’s the back office where we change into our uniform of the weekend, dashing out with giddy excitement at the thrill of 2 whole school free mornings. Only it’s Tuesday, and the band on before was Liverpool’s best Tryhards™ – Junk Culture, an uninteresting ‘rock’ band that remind me of 2002’s one hit wonders Train. It seems like an unusual match to Surferosa's heady blend of synthpop and punk. In their homeland they’ve managed to sell out a number of EPs and have recorded an album produced by Stefan Boman (the Hellacopters, Aqua, and yes – the Backstreet Boys) as well as completing an arena tour in support of fellow Scandinavians Tubernegro. If you liked The Darkness’ frivolous fashion and live shows but are now sick of 'Growing on Me' then Surferosa might just be for you. Climbing over barriers (and audience members) the glamourous Marianna comes kitted out in custom outfits by designer Josefin Johansson easily mistaken for one of Sylvia Anderson’s creations. The equivalent of an are-they-aren’t-they ironic hair rock outfit for synth-punk Surferosa are amazing fun and at a mere £2.99 their four track EP 'Neon Commander' is a steal.