The Sphygs @ Bannermans

First impressions of The Sphygs are modest. A snarling four-piece in Bannermans' concrete tunnel can more often than not imply the risk of half an hour of homogeneous noise. But as the opening track begins - a beach punk jam with hints of the blues - expectations begin to brighten. Most noticeable is the general lack of electric guitar. Instead, an acoustic one played adroitly, providing warmth and depth to what is often a treble-heavy sound. This does not, however, mean that The Sphygs are meek, as their closing track proves; as heavy and fast as any on Epitaph. The lyrics are angry and caustically funny with expected jabs at closed-minded societies. However, for a band dressed in matching black (Dior Homme perhaps?) taking pot shots at the fashion industry seems cheap. The stand out song of the night, TV Dinner, brings back the Beach Boys freshness of the opener to prove rebelliousness and social angst can join sunny California to the darkest pubs in Edinburgh. [Hamza Khan]