Sunday 05/03/06 The Crimea, The Hot Puppies, Manic @ 53 Degrees, Preston

Los Angeles band Manic's frontman enters like Ian Brown gone emo, with a confident swagger and angst filled screamed lyrics. ‘Pigeons and Fire’ works has an early U2 style intensity, while ‘Chemicals For Criminals’ sounds likes Incubus at their most intense. Manic have a powerful stage presence and the raw, spiraling guitars of ‘Leaving Araby’ and ‘Birds’ give them a real edge. The crowd is a little sparse and few people are willing to move forward, but they struggle gamely on. ‘Magenta’ is nothing short of confrontational, with the singer screaming right into the camera and the faces of the crowd. They end on more melodic upbeat note of ‘Evelyn’, that’s a little to American Pie at first, until out of nowhere screams fill the air. Like undergoing Primal scream therapy Manic may work for some people, but for others it’s just a little too crazy.

Welsh youngsters Hot Puppies look like butter-wouldn’t –melt until they open their mouths. Singer Becky Newman dreamy vocals of ‘Terry’ sound like Blondie dancing the tango with Karen O. ‘The Drowsing Nymph’ mixes Gypsy style drums with Goldfrapp style half whispered vocals. Singer Becky dominates the stage like a show girl Lolita figure singing sensually at the front row ‘Have you ever had a broken heart?’ on ‘Theda Bara’. New single ‘The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful’ is introduced as a problem page letter to celebrity gossip queen Mariella Frostrup. With a few hints of Sons and Daughters mixed with a dash of Dusty Springfield as this tiny femme fatale twirls around the stage. Experimenting with a more Tammy Wynette like country ballad sound ‘Love In Practice, Not Theory’ that melts hearts all over. ‘Green Eyeliner’ sounds altogether more bitter and twisted and as the voices soar over the crowd all eyes are on the stage. The Hot Puppies are captivating to watch and ‘How Come You Don’t Hold Me No More’ while far from being there strongest song, combines sugar sweet harmonies with powerful drums in a way that would bring a tear to even the most hardened love-wary cynic’s eye. The 80’s keyboards and breathy vocals of ‘Bonnie and Me’ bring the set to a heady close. While The Hot Puppies may look sweet and innocent they’ll take your heart, trample all over it and you’ll still come back for more.