The Maccabees @ The Garage, 9 May
It's so achingly now, it's almost comical.
The Maccabees, it seems, are big news. The Garage is a mass of asymmetric haircuts and neon accessories; glow sticks are spotted, an alarming yet accurate measure of their scene status. "This is the second time I've played guitar in Scotland," announces singer Orlando Weeks beneath his bowl cut, not inspiring confidence as he cocks up the intro to Two Faced Kisses, and the scene kids try to clap along to a waltz in counts of four. It's so achingly now, it's almost comical. Songs like Precious Time and Only VIP, while well-executed, are sub-Maximo Park guitar pop by numbers, the stage is merely host to hyperactive chanting. The Maccabees make all the right noises, but it's hard to imagine them as anything more than indie disco fodder, and while it's hard to fault a band who are quite clearly making people happy, it's equally hard to see them hanging around for long. [Heather Crumley]