Anathema @ The Cathouse, 10 Feb

It takes a special kind of band to fill a venue with aging rockers, 20-something chin-strokers and weekend goths, but that is precisely what Anathema have managed to achieve tonight. Even though it took seven years for last year’s stunning We’re Here Because We’re Here to see the light of day, they’re going to make damn sure that no-one forgets them in a hurry, opening with its first track Thin Air and proceeding to play the rest of the album before entering into greatest hits mode. It’s a lengthy set, for sure, but give their reception it’s doubtful that there’ll be any complaints.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what makes the band so special, as tonight they display a plethora of facets that could each make a successful performance. Vincent Cavanagh’s vocals possess a staggering range, packing a visceral punch during numbers like Get Off, Get Out without sacrificing the fragility that lies at the core of their material, whereas Jamie Cavanagh’s bass rings out above all else yet still remains on the right side of showiness. More than anything, though, their music is what really grabs hold; it’s unmistakeably progressive but overflowing with emotion, a beautiful antidote to experimentation for pretension’s sake. [David Bowes]