White Heat: The Damn Shames, Fuck-Off Machete, Ladyfuzz, Cabaret Voltaire, June 8

The Damn Shames (2/5) are hard to fathom. Have they been asleep for 3 years? Or perhaps they've only just been born? It's difficult to understand what could motivate yet another band to copy every other post-punk-pop Franz Heads rip-off out there – "all I want is sex and scenery" gives the game away. Observe, if you will, the Neck-Scarved Indie Boy, as he plays jaunt and angle, rolls his eyes and tics his vocals, in an elaborate show designed to attract a mate. What else could it be designed to do?

Fuck-Off Machete (3/5) don't inspire much hope, initially seeming to be a carbon copy of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 3-piece garage rock band, fronted by a sexy singer, playing as the 'kooky' girl whilst rocking hard – but FOM are no fakers. Their performance is accomplished and full of energy, serious but fun, exemplified by a crunching cover of Olivia Newton-John's Let's Get Physical.

The lady in Ladyfuzz (3/5) appears like Gwen Stefani in a badly-ruffled Snow-White costume, with guitarist and drummer in tow – no dwarves to be seen. They assist their catchy garage-pop with recorder and kazoo cameos, cha-cha-cha's and ah-ah-oh's - hardly inspiring, but then pop rarely is. With the DJs about to convert the crowd from gig-goers to clubbers, Ladyfuzz leave everybody dancing to Status Symbols stellar guitar riff. [Ally Brown]