Saturday 19/05/07 The Rumble Strips, The Little Ones, Pull Tiger Tail, Blood Red Shoes @ The Plug, Sheffield

Blood Red Shoes are punk rockers for the Ritalin generation. The pace is relentless with songs of heartbreak, love and lust. Steve Cansell’s high speed drums are perfect backing to flame haired temptress’ Laura-Mary Carter’s tortured wail on ‘I Wish I Was Someone Better’, while single ‘It’s Getting Boring By The Sea’ is like Elastica reincarnated. Steve drums like his arms are disconnected as ‘ADHD’ stutters to a close. He holds his sticks aloft in salute as Laura repeatedly smashes her guitar until it’s reduced to smithereens.

Indie darlings Pull Tiger Tail are prepared to go to great lengths to get themselves heard. Bass player Davo climbs on the speakers and stands triumphant, his head grazing the ceiling. Onstage antics aside songs like ‘Hurricanes’ are a force to be reckoned with full of heart rending pleas and shimmering guitars. They play off each-other as ‘Animator’ bounces along like a ball of energy. Single ‘Lets Lightning’ is greeted with shouts of ‘f**ck the slot’ as they announce they have to round up. Silencing the troublemakers and doubters in equal measure Pull Tiger Tail are definitely a band for the future.

Spreading their infectious charm The Little Ones aim to bring the crowd a healthy dose of summery vibes. The tropical rhythms of ‘Cha Cha Cha’ are like Death Cab For Cutie on sunshine juice, where the soaring guitars of ‘Oh MJ’ are more sincere, Grandaddy style. Cheekily referring to it as Babymaking music, singer … seems more at ease. Single ‘Lovers Who Uncover’ receives a warm reception with its happy handclaps and melodic hooks bringing a smile to everyone’s face.

The Rumble Strips are a mess of rousing trumpets and raucous shouting that spills out over the small stage. Trumpet player Henry Clark’s magnificent moustache attracts its fair share off attention as they squall through ‘Alarm Clock’. With two drummers, trumpet, keyboard, saxophone and guitars they are capable of making quite a racket. Multi instrumentalist Sam bashes the drums into submission at various intervals as ‘My Oh My’ croons it’s old fashioned refrain "why are you always on my mind?". A manic look of desperation creeps over singer Charlie's face as he wails over the heads of the crowd, his voice half full of hope, half of despair.
 
80s influenced single ‘Motorcycle’ has the quirky charm of Guillemots mixed with bouncing baselines that makes for a triumphant ending. All the instruments meet in the middle for a sound clashing ending worthy of a rock musical.