Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Recently rocking the summer festival scene, and about to take off for the dizzying crowd-scapes of Japan, Hadouken! were an eagerly anticipated arrival to Belfast on Saturday. Love them or loathe them, the new gods of grindie made an early appearance to cater for their hoards of youthful fans... a curfew of ten o'clock being imposed at the Stiff Kitten.

This didn't dampen the spirits of the coolest kids in Belfast - adorned with glow sticks, neon t-shirts and 'skinny-fit jeans' - they were ready for their idols to take the stage. The band didn't disappoint. They leapt into the eyes of their faithful followers to an ear-piercing reception, and every word was sung back at them with gusto.

Audience participation was key, and front-man James had the gaggles eating out of his hand. There was crowd surfing from guitarists, and at one point the lucky revellers up front were even treated to a dousing of Ballygowan.

'Old' and new songs were offered up, and a cover of the Prodigy classic Breathe was electric. They closed with one of the loudest and most perfectly-formed numbers in their repertoire: 'That Boy, That Girl'. "This whole night's been leading up to this one minute" - even for the less hardcore Hadouken! junkies it was difficult not to get caught up in the excitement of their last moments on stage.

With a combination of Dizzee Rascal-esque vocals and a nu-rave score, this really was a gig not to be missed, and for many of those for whom this would be their first concert - it will no doubt live long in the memory.

Kathy McWhirter