Blaenavon, The Joiners

THEY’VE just played in America and Europe, their latest single is a hit on Radio One and a debut album is imminent, so it was a special night when Hampshire’s Blaenavon returned to The Joiners.

Tickets had sold out weeks ago with both the band and their eager fans treating this as a homecoming show as well as a chance to properly launch debut album That’s Your Lot.

It’s not yet a year since lead singer-guitarist Ben Gregory, bassist Frank Wright and drummer Harris McMillan were last here, but even in that short time things have moved on for the Liphook and Liss band.

“It was pretty cool before, but look at it now, we're making progress” said Ben, 21, looking out on the bouncing scenes that greeted songs Let’s Pray and Into the Night.

With lyrics about the perils and good fortune of relationships and the inevitable swings between optimism and despair, Blaenavon provide plenty to think about. Even the darkest sentiments are set against infectious melodies and intricate rhythms.

My Bark is Your Bite, a haunting song about jealousy and feeling inferior to others, and forthcoming single Lonely Side show the progressive alternative rockers at their most innovative. It must have been quite something when their ideas were mashed up with those of producer Jim Abbiss who knows a thing or two about seminal first albums after working with Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club and Kasabian.

This close knit trio manage to create the intricate sound of a four or five piece band and can repeat on stage anything that’s been put together in the studio.

But it’s still something special to see these songs played live where the band’s tremendous energy, passion and rawness transform tunes like Into The Night and Radio One favourite Orthodox Man to even bigger sounds.

As always Prague ‘99 ends the show with the scenes of madness escalating further, Frank getting involved in drumming and Ben crowdsurfing off the stage.

RICHARD DERBYSHIRE