Thursday 23/12/04 The Music @ Barrowlands, Glasgow

Unfortunately due to a concoction of scary weather, the Slowest Train On Earth to Glasgow and a lost hat in Debenhams, this reviewer missed the whole of  support band The Dead 60s. However, I managed to glean two opinions from others: one that they were “aye, good man”; and the other that they were “decidedly average”. Draw your own conclusions.

But nothing short of a monsoon would have kept me from The Music. Their debut eponymous album was a breath of fresh air in an atmosphere of very similar British indie boy albums, and the follow-up 'Welcome to the North' this year moved them another step forward, without abandoning any of the individuality or indeed, ability to write good tunes. In fact, this ability of The Music’s is only surpassed by their incredible capacity for putting on a spellbinding live show.

True, they don’t have an impressive background display or witty banter with the crowd. Hell, they don’t even do an encore. But the fact remains, The Music are ace. There is something bewitching in Robert Harvey’s possessed-lunatic dancing and he holds the crowd in thrall for the entire set. Seeing a band that you can convince yourself is Led Zeppelin, even with your eyes open is one unique selling point not to be overlooked. Robert Harvey couldn’t be more Robert Plant if he tried and the best part is he clearly isn't trying to be. 'The Truth Is No Words' is the highlight of the set, but there is no clear crowd favourite here. Every song is received with delirious excitement and pogo-ing from every part of the Barrowlands’ bouncy floor; The Music are clearly on top of their game.

The only slight downer during the evening is 'Human', which is an exceptional album track, but perhaps doesn’t fit in with the party atmosphere of the evening. But that is the only down side to the night and all considered Robert Harvey and The Music can consider themselves welcome to the North of the UK anytime.