Wednesday 16/05/07 Youthmovies, The Little Explorer, Actionier @ The Corporation, Sheffield

Sometimes there is a feeling as you turn up at a venue, glance around the room and then the crowd (or lack of) that you are the only person aware of a band. There is quite a joy in experiencing something no one else has, but also the shear frustration that no one in the whole city has bothered with a band so clearly talented is vast.

Tonight Youthmovies, having spent a month in the studio are playing a rare gig before their ATP appearance yet as the support Actionier move onstage the audience is minimal. Of course there were high hopes for this support, dubbed as previous 65Daysofstatic members thoughts of brilliant math rock is expected. However as it is rumoured this previous member was thrown from the band for suggesting they sing, all quickly becomes apparent. For Actionier represent your dad's band trying to rock out. As they begin the singing is gruesome, as the lead singer fails to create a rough aesthetic, he even screams in the hope of really letting go but fails at that too, resulting in a rather painful listen. The rhythms are also nothing to be desired as the same guitar chords are repeated consistently with too many obvious nods to Rage Against the Machine. The Little Explorer unfortunately take the same route as Actionier. Although their songs appear more rough and ready the vocals, again fall short as the band fail to create any impact onstage.

Youthmovies, appear to be the only band tonight to not live up to the stereotype. As they all wander onstage, they look more suited to a boy band, rather than a complex rock group, but as they begin to play the sheer volume is more than most. Creating a web of guitar induced melodies, their powerful rhythms almost shatter the tiny room, as fans come out of the crowd for this rare show. Consisting of two guitars, bass and drums they are the only band who manage to fit a trumpet successfully into their music, without it becoming a novelty. Somehow the brass instrument blends perfectly into the complex rhythms, with its player usually over blowing the instrument to the point of a constructive mess.

Yet in many ways Youthmovies are brilliant wave of disorganisation. Regularly changing key signature several times during a song, long instrumentals are finally coupled with slow quiet vocals, before descending on a mixture of noise and carefully constructed guitar distortion. By the end of the gig, the room no longer feels empty, but more like a small house party as people are left singing-a-long with the band. In truth, sometimes things are best kept to yourself.