Thursday 10/02/05 Yellowjack, Dogs, The Duke Spirit @ Barfly, Liverpool

Packed out with trendy students mooching around trying to look cool and punky young whippersnappers making the most of just turning 18 with a pint of lager in each hand, the barfly is hot and buzzing with energy.

First band Yellowjack from Liverpool impress us with some quality guitar playing.  They lack stage presence so find it hard to keep people’s attention, but they are a talented lot and had I not missed half of their set due to arriving late I would be able to say more …sorry!

Up next are Dogs.  This band has a lot of hype surrounding them.  Coming from the same management as Razorlight and sharing a similar sound, its easy to see why.  Loads of people have claimed they’re just a shit Razorlight rip-off but it just aint true.  These guys are heavier with a much darker mood about them, and their songs are actually good.

Tonight though, they appear to be a band of two halves - guitarist Rikki Mehta looks as though he’s having an orgasm whenever he gets a guitar solo and front man Johnny Cooke’s all over the place with enthusiasm, whereas bass player Duncan Timms and drummer Rich Mitchell look almost bored to be here.  This makes for an awkward set that people just don’t seem too excited about.

Disappointed with the reaction of the crowd, Johnny mimics the pathetic cheers in a sardonic tone with a fixed, icy glare, then laughs as he explains, "that was our new single."  Didn’t go down as well as they’d hoped then I guess.

A rapturous applause welcomes The Duke Spirit.  As front woman Leila Moss takes her place at the mic a huge crowd flocks towards the stage.  One over-excited bloke at the front relays his adoration, shrieking "I love you Leila!"  She just laughs.  Comparisons with Debbie Harry are well justified – Leila’s captivating glare commands attention, and everyone seems transfixed with her every move.

Perhaps in some attempt at being profound, Leila declares: "this isn’t just a gig you know, this is a communion."  God knows what she’s on about, but the music’s good so no one cares.  ‘Dark Is Light Enough’ and latest single ‘Lion Rip’ are the set highlights, but The Duke Spirit are just adored by the crowd (especially the blokes, methinks) the whole way through - and rightly so.