We Are Scientists, Arctic Monkeys, Maxïmo Park - 17 February 2006 - Brixton Academy, London

This is the last night of the 2006 NME Awards Tour, and a packed – seemingly over-subscribed – Brixton Academy is in the mood for a belter from the off. Indeed, for many here, it looks like this could be their first gig-going experience, and these virgins are here for as much fun as they can possibly get.

We Are Scientists, however, appear to be in sombre mood. Taking to the stage to REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ is the first sign, followed by their announcement that “this is like a funeral for us.” Maybe the tour has taken its toll, maybe they’re homesick for the US. Or maybe it’s just a big, fat lie. ‘Inaction’ hits the crowd like a Nine Inch Nails screamer, while ‘Can’t Lose’, the first essential track of 2006, knocks doubters for six. The best word to describe this three-piece is unorthodox: with a bespectacled, moustachio’ed beanpole bassist and a bearded drummer who at times isn’t hitting to a time in anyone else’s head but his own, they look like a crash in a trailer park in the darkest recesses of the US. Little wonder, then, that they obscure their faces on the cover of album ‘With Love and Squalor’ with kittens – but, like I said, unorthodox. Meanwhile, with chief Arctic Monkey Alex Turner helping out on ‘Cash Cow’, and set closer ‘The Great Escape’ seeing the three-piece go ape, many here risk peaking too soon.

The level of excitement pre-Arctic Monkeys, therefore, isn’t almost palpable, it actually is palpable. Blah-blah, two number one singles, blah-blah, biggest selling UK debut album ever: but can they actually play as well? Erm, yes – and in spades. The immediacy of music in the 21st Century is clear to see when bands sell out five nights at Brixton after just one album (viz. Hard-Fi), but this Sheffield four-piece have rewritten the rule book, coming seemingly out of nowhere late last year. Number one, erm, number one ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ hits early, and to scenes of carnage. EVERYONE is going spare. Turner invites the crowd to take over for second chart-topper ‘When the Sun Goes Down’ and strums one chord – the rest is choir-like. Chuck in drumming that wouldn’t look out of place in the voodoo scenes from ‘Live and Let Die’ during ‘All You People are Vampires’ and we are in the presence of something genuinely thrilling. One complaint – no ‘Mardy Bum’? Shame to miss the opportunity to hear lyrics like “I’m sorry I was late, but I missed the train and then the traffic was a state” in the live arena.

The bar’s been raised for Maxïmo Park, then. But cometh the hour, cometh the band. This Newcastle five-piece could rightly claim 2005 as their own, with a bombastic debut album and a Mercury Music nomination. Can we expect more in 2006, especially with new pretenders like the aforementioned Scientists and Monkeys snapping at their heels? Maybe in sales terms, Maxïmo Park have to bow to the Arctic Monkeys, but as a live proposition, the Geordies remain in a league of their own. Lead singer Paul Smith positively howls between spitting his words out, and leaps around like a man possessed – an audience which has already been spoiled tonight, however, follows suit, especially during favourites like ‘Grafitti’ and ‘Apply Some Pressure’. The airing of a new track, ‘A Fortnight’s Time’ suggests that there’s more to come in 2006. Now, how much fun is that going to be for you newly-christened gig-goers?