The Thermals @ Sneaky Pete's, 16 Jun

Now seven years in, it's perplexing that the Thermals aren't playing much larger venues by now, but it's hard to complain when you're standing within spitting distance. Indeed, this particular critic catches a few flecks from Hutch Harris, even though I'm standing towards the back of the crowd in Pete's. But the exuberant Portland trio give the impression they'd be happy to play almost anywhere, and a ten-a-penny wedding band they are not. Drawing mainly on tracks from latest album Now We Can See (which is no bad thing, given that it's pop-punk perfection), they show that however accessible and ultimately simplistic their sound is, there is an added dark edge which makes the whole package exhilarating. The fun they're having on stage - and drummer/cheerleader-in-chief Westin Glass in particular can't stop smiling - is very rapidly transmitted to tonight's onlookers, who all react with a suitable mix of awe and affinity.