Vetiver

Eyes can't help but wander left, to the man sat cross-legged, each foot wrapped by both sock and sandal. My girlfriend makes a point of laughing at this; I can't help but snigger, too. But said man is folkie-done-good Devendra Banhart, for some the sole reason to brave the school uniform-clad revelers of Hammersmith's Saturday night for tonight's performance by Vetiver.

Vetiver is, at its core, Andy Cabic. It is he, sat to Banhart's left, that pens the original material heard this evening, such as the lovelorn 'Been So Long'. It is he the carries the wonderful lead vocal above the vast Lyric stage and lowers it gently into the ears of all in attendance. Yet it is also he that is in some danger of being overshadowed by his friend and bandmate, whose somewhat bizarre gesticulating during the shifting of vocal keys and between-song quips regarding how "twisted" the next number is (this is the Twisted Folk tour, lest we forget) and Fleetwood Mac's cocaine habit (they cover 'Save Me A Place') comprise awkward distractions. By contrast, on his best behaviour is Currituck Co.'s Kevin Barker, whose slide guitar work is wonderful, adding electric texture to acoustic music. Alissa Anderson's contributions are not to be scoffed at either - sat in the centre of five musicians, her excellent cello work is matched only by a pleasing turn on the flute.

By the time the house lights have come up, everyone's left with a mixed opinion. Yes, Vetiver craft some achingly beautiful songs, their roots buried deeply in the bedrock of folk but their eyes firmly on the twinkling stars of indie-rock success, but the attention-grabbing presence of Banhart detracts somewhat from the immense talent of Cabic. Perhaps in time Vetiver will become a bigger draw than Banhart himself - they've certainly the songs to do so - but until then they might well remain but a curio to those taken in by the antics of this scene's leading exponent.