Thursday 26/10/06 The Paddingtons, The Enemy, The Lurios @ Northumbria University, Newcastle

Local four-piece The Lurios seem to have a lucky break this evening, as they only got to perform as another band pulled out.  But they more than deserve the exposure, as their sunny indie-rock provides an excellent opening to tonight’s set.  Comprising of two sets of brothers, the Teeside group play happy-go-lucky tunes that put a bounce in your step.

Second band, The Enemy, are three Coventry upstarts who claim they sound like “three bored as **** lads”.  Well they don’t seem bored as **** tonight.  Pint-sized singer and lead guitarist Tom swaggers around the stage singing songs about girls, sex, going out and dancing.  Standard stuff you’d have thought, but The Enemy do it with a ballsy attitude that gives their music a realistic edge.  With a writing style similar to that of those well-known freezing simians, Arctic Monkeys, the band are one to look out for.

With two such corking support bands, it’s no surprise that the crowd are keyed up for the evening’s main act; The Paddingtons. But, this crowd is like no other seen before.  From the moment the band take to the stage, everyone in the room seems possessed with a frenzied urge to dance.  But with songs sounding as good as The Paddingtons are tonight, it is not hard to see why.  Track after track comes bursting forth from the speakers, with the crowd singing every word back at lead singer Tom while he stares maniacally back.  Highlight of the night has got to be ’50 To A £’, but re-entering the stage to The Clash’s classic, ‘Janie Jones’ was an inspired choice.  And just like the subject of The Clash’s tune, it would seem that The Paddingtons are in love with rock n roll.  Their energy is infectious, and set closer ‘Loser’ confirms how catching their brand of punky rock really is.

Although only playing a two-track encore, the set is more than enough – any more and the crowd would be on the floor.