Pistolas @ Cabaret Voltaire

Tonight's gig may say Pistolas, but with a creamy skimming of local talent, lofted up a notch to supporting slots courtesy of your friendly Sounds crew, attentions are elsewhere. Relief is palpable then when all involved deliver the goods. Dead On The Live Wire are an Edinburgh male-female ferocious noise duo who deploy Sonic Youth-esque atonal vocals, Nine Inch Nails guitar crunch and industrial clatter to deafening effect. Rough around the edges for sure, but even the various technical hitches are gleefully absorbed into the set. Come On Gang have evidently been busy honing their melodies since we caught them at Rubix in January. Singer/drummer Sarah Tanat Jones has a voice "like an angel" according to one vociferous punter, and when she puts down her sticks during Woods From The Trees, it's hard to argue. However it's when the drums and the angular guitar hooks of Coming Home ignite the audience that they hold their own. Recalling Belly or maybe Sleater-Kinney, the oft-used 'ones to watch' seems entirely apt here. So, even if tonight's headliners were to disappoint it'd be no great loss. However, The Pistolas do no such thing. It would be easy to label the Norwich five-piece as a bunch of misplaced hipsters trying to second guess the LCD Soundsystem. Flippant song titles and lashings of cowbells would bare this out but, gosh darnit, these lads are having such a fantastic time that they are giddily infectious. The need to dance is inescapable and sometimes that's all that matters. Back slaps all round then. [Darren Carle]