Seafood

It's time to face facts:

1) The Seafood of 2004 are not the Seafood of 1997 in any way. Pockets of fans shouting for 'Psychic Rainy Nights' and 'Porchlight' need to get with the programme, despite their best intentions.

2) The Seafood of 2004 still fucking rock.

"Hello, we're Seafood, and this is our first London show in two years!" says frontman David Line. One, no shit, and two, God DAMN it's good to have them back. After all the problems of the last two years - Line's lung complications, Charles leaving the band, the band being dropped - the feeling of relief that rushes through the crowd is immesurable. What comes after the introduction is almost an aside - the band play a mixed set of old and new; new single 'Good Reason' still doesn't sound too great, and has to be restarted when the bass goes horribly out of tune; 'Summer Falls' DOES sound great; 'Heat Walks Against Me' would make a great next single, even though it's about as commercially viable as kiddie porn; and 'Porchlight' (well, they had to play it) is a nostalgic trip like none other. However, the slower, pedal steel and piano-assisted new tracks point to a future unscarred by white noise and feedback, and should soon prove firm favourites.

Ratings? They don't matter in the slightest. Welcome back Seafood; Britain's live scene has been a dull place without you.