The Subways

It's not often you come across a band as badly dressed as The **Dirty Feel**. Looking like New Jersey natives desperate to blag their way into Studio 54, (or extras from Austin Powers), their willfully sleazy, but ultimately pedestrian pub funk is fleetingly entertaining if only for their gurning onstage facials. Although they will never do for white-boy funk what The Darkness did for falsetto hair metal, their current B-side 'Love In' is at least an amusing, testosterone-fueled grunt-fest.

You'd be mistaken in thinking that The Subways are some tweenie indie chancers plucked from obscurity by Eavis just nine months ago; in fact they've been toiling away and tirelessly touring since the end of 2002. They've cut their teeth, paid their dues and with their sophomore single 'Oh Yeah' soon to be released, their fanbase will increase exponentially. But tonight things do not start well for the Welwyn Garden City three-piece. Young Billy Lunn is not happy with the sound quality: between songs he asks politely for adjustments, before giving up and swearing at the soundman the aplomb of a down and out wino. But it's this frustration that spurs on drummer Josh**, Billy and his other half, bassist Mary-Charlotte**, igniting the spirit of rebellion as they surge towards a heady finale, their set scarcely grazing the 30 minute mark.