Wednesday 04/12/02 The Basement, The Thrills @ Barfly, Liverpool

Any band signed to Deltasonic is inevitably going to generate a bit of a stir, so it's no great suprise that there's a genuine air of anticipation awaiting The Basement's opening slot for The Thrills. And as the set trundles off, with the Bob Dylan influence immediately apparent from John Mullin's nasal vocals through to the blatant attempt to unashamedly re-write 'Highway 61 Revisited', the initial signs are promising. The band are unmistakably tight, with a driving rythmn section complimented by the excellent no nonsense lead guitar of Mark McCausland, but mid point in your desperate for a change in tempo as the set starts to grind with one two and a half minute slice of jangly pop unfortunately segueing into the next. The odd interesting flirtation with Irish folk aside, as Mullins now caricature vocals brings the last song to a limp finale, you are left feeling distinctly underwhelmed after a lively start. The Wandering Step and now The Basement, after the triple whammy of The Coral, The Bandits and The Zutons, is Deltasonics star now begining to fade?

Currently hotter than a hard day in hell and with the official endorsement of no lesser than Bono and Morrisey, the latter who they recently supported at The Royal Albert Hall, The Thrills too have a considerable weight of expectation on their young Irish shoulders. But whether its recording in LA and infusing the natural, laid back self confidence that's part and parcel of living in California or the time spent bonding over Beach Boys' CDs on the west coast over summers previous, its something that they're seeming consumately at ease with. Perhaps looking a little jaded, which is unsurprising considering they've just jetted in from LA, The Thrills tonight still manage to deliver a perfectly formed set, both plaintive and dreamy whilst brimming with sun kissed melodies. Take 'Santa Cruz', shifting tempo from ballad like blue grass to a full on Byrds-ey optimistic pop classic, evoking Kerouac's "On The Road" with its wanderlust lyrics.

Finishing supremely with a 'One Horse Town', touched by the spirit of Gram Parsons and delivered confidently with note perfect harmonies, The Thrills might not have , erm..., thrilled in terms of a dynamic stage performance tonight (things should be better once rejuvenated on the NME Term Warfare Tour with The Datsuns, The Polyphonic Spree and Interpol) but the songs still shone through that in 2003 will demand your attention. There will be no escape!

Photos by Shelly Turner :: shelly@gigwise.com