The Vivians @ Voodoo Rooms

Vivian's gigs have become an increasing rarity in these parts, amid their knuckling down to write new material, the chase of a record deal and a planned relocation to London town. So, in the atmospheric environs of the Voodoo Rooms, it's good to see very little evidence of rustiness. The Vivians act persists as a visual and aural homage to the glory days of punk but, lyrically speaking, they're shoegazers at heart. This presents an interesting dichotomy: it's sometimes difficult to reconcile the scuzzy, greasy riffage with heart-rending lyrics of love lost and ambitions thwarted. That's not to say the twain shall never meet, and they remain one of the more entertaining live prospects. Hints of promise among the new songs and perhaps a more mature direction aimed at taking themselves more seriously - which would probably be quite a shame - seems to be the resolution for 2008 for the guys with the big(ish) hair and larger than life presence. [Jimmy Snuka]