IF ANYONE hadn't realised Delays were from Southampton before they went to the band's gig at the Guildhall on Saturday they would have quickly realised their error.

Lead singer Greg Gilbert referred to Southampton as "the best city in the world" on more than one occasion, celebrated Saints staying in the Championship and dedicated one song to the city and another to Alan Ball.

He also declared that the performance wasn't a gig - it was a celebration - and he was right. It seemed as if everyone at the venue felt a kinship with the group, doing what we were told from Mexican waves and screaming on cue to falling near silent so that Greg could tune up his guitar.

It was a fantastic set. The band have a great new album out, Everything's The Rush, but they did not turn the gig into an extended sales pitch by only playing new material. Instead, the concert was packed with crowd-pleasers. They scored big points with Valentine, despite having to restart it due to a technical fault. While the problem was sorted out, Greg treated us to a solo number.

Technical hitch aside, every member of the band was spot on for the whole night, which is particularly impressive given the venue - lesser bands sometimes come unstuck thanks to the venue's acoustics.

Delays have been touted as the next big thing for sometime. If there's any justice in the music world this will come true. And if not, they've got the satisfaction of being the biggest thing in "the best city in the world".

SALLY CHURCHWARD