Fast: The Low Miffs @ The Bongo Club

Tonight, The Low Miffs are captivating. But without the dictatorial showmanship of frenetic front man Leo Condie it could have been an entirely different proposition. With angular riffs and shambolic hooks, the Glaswegian quintet should sound like every other generic Libertines/Franz Ferdinand wannabe. However, Condie's evangelistic preaching transforms this band into an exquisite ensemble of pseudo-punk pastiche. Epileptically energising, the band stomp through the set with the finesse of an inebriated ballet-dancer. With jingle-jangle guitars, I Suspect and This Is The New will always be crowd pleasers, but it's the burlesque virtuosity of Earl Grey that truly captivates. As Condie twists and writhes, dominating the crowd with Machiavellian apathy, the band concocts a skewered claustrophobia with the vulgar intensity of The Bad Seeds. Visually mesmerising, it's an exhilarating display of artistic pretension that suggests, with a little tweaking, The Low Miffs could be on the verge of greatness. [Billy Hamilton]