The Twang @ ABC 2

As claimed everywhere from the Guardian to the NME, the Twang are a people's band. From the singalong choruses to their rapport with the adoring audience - they even stay to chat to the fans - this Midlands five piece are genuine and earthy. Never mind Stu Hartland's mastery of most guitar sounds of the last twenty years; or Phil Etheridge's lyrical precision, the Twang are cheerleaders for the crowd's good time. Matty Clinton's drumming keeps the band tight, incorporating ska and hip-hop. Even when they reach out with the anthemic Wide Awake, they never lose their bouncy passion; forging the rough energy of rock with the joyful beats of dance music. Frontman Etheridge's charisma is a mixture of menace and bonhomie - harsh enough to ride the snarling feedback of closer Cloudy Room but never distant. Their abrasive intensity leads them through woozy melodies: tonight the Twang appear vital, immediate and triumphant. [Margaret Kirk]