THE thirst

The four lads from Brixton don’t let this humbling experience set them back onstage, however. The Thirst offer a wodge of supercharged indie-rock with a mix of power and melody that makes most bands look like they’re playing under the influence of Nytol. At times Kwane plays his bass with the kind of enthusiasm that’s usually reserved for air guitar sessions of Hendrix’s ‘All Along The Watchtower’. Meanwhile, lead singer Mensah is in the midst of being a proper guitar hero, first puffing out his cheeks, then dangling out his tongue, then staring his bulging eyes into the back of the venue while he bellows out another great chorus. His vocals are occasionally reminiscent of Kele Okereke, especially during new single ‘Ready To Move’, but generally the band manage to avoid too many music journo attempts to find obvious comparisons – they’re just plain good. Their stock rises still further when Hot Hot Heat eventually come onstage to offer a thoroughly indulgent and musically bankrupt performance that leads Artrocker to leave halfway through the set. Hot Hot Heat might be able to get the place jumping up and down for ‘Bandages’, but it’s clearly not The Thirst who are the true bog standard act around here tonight.