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An early one this evening, and for the hardy souls who have turned up before the sun sets Vega 4 begin our audio entertainment. A mix of nationalities including local, English (prompting friendly boos and a quip that he's paying for the sins of his father), and Canadian. As for their music, well, it's got little bits of Snow Patrol in there, and has got that melodic rock thing going on. It is a bit of a crowded market, but if these nice guys don't make it, and they've got a tune or two which suggests they might, there's always a career in the diplomatic corps awaiting them.

The main support for the evening are Director. I'll nail my colours to the mast from the start. I've seen these guys before and I didn't like them then, and they do very little to change my opinion. Musically it's sub-Franz Ferdinand, lyrically, there's a lot of sub-Morrissey, and vocally it's sub-Divine Comedy. If you could combine these three influences, you could have a very nice band, but this bunch of geek-chic art-rock wannabes haven't managed it. 'Freaking Out' should be investigated by Graham Coxon for damaging the good name of his similarly monikered song, while new single 'Don't You Want To' would be rejected by Kapranos and Co as being too derivative of past material.

Thank god for Maximo Park to rescue us. Eschewing their suits for the evening they begin with new track 'Girls Who Play Guitar' and the energy levels onstage are enough to solve any fuel shortages. Front-man Smith's antics are well-known, well-documented and well in evidence, but even he is upstaged by Lukas Wooller on keyboards - obviously the choice of instrument is for its lack of portability and to ensure crowd safety by trapping him in one place. I would suggest moving him to the drums at the back of the stage but the giving him drumsticks would be a health and safety officer's nightmare.

Hitting us early on with 'Graffiti' produces the desired madness and first of the evening's chorus sing-alongs. 'Postcard Of A Painting' is followed by another new song 'A Fortnight's Time' which shows that these affable Geordies aren't going to be one-album wonders. 'Limassol' is another raucous sing-along by the ear-damagingly loud audience who decide that 'The Coast Is Always Changing' is an excuse for crowd-surfing, probably much to the chagrin of security, but provoking only a raised eyebrow from the band who seem genuinely joyful at the madness before them.

'The Night I Lost My Head' is dedicated to the healing qualities of water - much needed after the previous night's excess in Limerick according to Smith, who produces a book, possibly as a memory aid, for 'Once, A Glimpse' although this is probably unnecessary for one of the nation's tightest contemporary live bands.

Finishing their regular set with the keyboard abusing 'Going Missing', we are then smacked around the face with the encore with 'Kiss You Better' turning into mayhem that is unimaginable compared to the album version while closing track 'Apply Pressure' threatens to take the roof off and makes the floor a dangerous place to be unless you're bouncing along with the rest of the audience. They're big, loud, noisy, exuberant and fun. It's hard to ask for much more.

William Johnston
Photos by Alan Maguire

Maximo Park, Director, Vega 4, Mandela Hall, Belfast, 28.09.06