Saturday 01/10/05 Hot Club De Paris, Graffiti, Trap2, Cherubs @ In The City, Dry Bar, Manchester

Cherubs are on wobbly territory - territory that’s been claimed and stabilised by those sharp-set Editors boys, and will no-doubt be claimed by more capable versions of themselves. But at this stage and on this form its difficult to allow Cherubs more than a second glance, I mean "we love those Rickenbacker bass"… but for ****s sake chaps lets inject a little more ferocity and feeling into the game.

That’s exactly what Trap2 are trying to do, and these are the kind of little shits that will die trying. Give em your email address and they’ll fill your box, give em an arm they’ll whack a sticker on it, give em a stage and they’ll pretty much blow you away. After some frankly bollocks Kasabian style kick-off (laden with oasis shite-style rhyming) the Sheffield lads find footing on higher terrain and begin to endear a few supporters. Front man Mike’s piercing vocals parallel that of Nathan Nicholson (The Boxer Rebellion) and are as stunning, but musically they're still licking 90’s plimsolls which is almost as grim as it sounds.

New Graffiti are a lot of style with very little substance, but who cares when the band look as good and give as much as this? Well we wouldn’t if we were watching cabaret, but we’re not! The Futureheads have raised the level of indie rock acts and Liverpool boys Hot Club de Paris are ready to step up and challenge their throne. They're not without fault, they're cheesy and often fall into some wanky jazz-off but they are undeniably special and with their spectacular closer, bound with intricate harmonies and vocal beats they more than cover their backs.