The Futureheads

The fact that Newcastle-based four-piece Kubichek! have been handpicked by the headline act to serve as support on this tour should speak for itself. Certainly their name has been been attracting "one to watch out for" accolades for some time now, and after the first few notes of 'Taxi' it's easy to see why.

Whilst not being a million miles away, musically or lyrically, from fellow Tynesiders Maxïmo Park and the Futureheads, their repertoire contains more twists and turns than Ruth Rendell's entire literary collection. Just when you thought you were going to get electroshock jitterpunk, along comes the reverb-drenched 'Stutter' or pop-on-a-stick 'Nightjoy' to completely disorientate the most abject of listeners. By the time the wistful irony of 'Hometown Strategies' has rounded off their set, they retire to their dressing rooms safe in the knowledge that their fanbase has increased to the power of several noughts tonight.

And so to The Futureheads. Fair play to them, for starters, for taking the brave step of roadtesting their new album before even the most discerning user of SoulSeek or Kazaa has managed to hear a copy. There aren't many bands with the confidence to play what is virtually an entire set of unreleased material to the unsuspecting and curious at such short notice, particularly as their most commercially successful recording to date was a cover version.

As the new record is to be called News And Tributes, the band pay tribute to one of their favourite artists by way of a postcard adorned with photos and memorabilia relating to said individual. Tonight's lucky incumbent is Tom Waits, which is perhaps fitting as the earlier new numbers given an airing tonight, such as 'Fallout' and 'Burnt', are semi-acoustic, folky numbers that recall the likes of Waits, Gram Parsons and in some cases even The Proclaimers. The vocal harmonies are still there - in some ways even more intricate than before - but anyone expecting The Futureheads mark II will be in for a surprise.

'Return Of The Beserker' and 'Favours For Favours' up the tempo somewhat while forthcoming single 'Skip To The End' is possibly one of the most radio(2)-friendly songs the band has ever written. On the whole, though, the new material is clearly going to take some coming to terms with. It doesn't just sound like a band who've bypassed puberty and reached the stage of uber-maturity, it actually sounds like the work of a new band. Despite the polite applause that greets every new song, more than a few puzzled looks adorn people's faces throughout.

Still, The Futureheads are old hands at pleasing a crowd, and despite the fact that one senses the band have become a tad bored with playing them by now, customary runs through the likes of 'Decent Days And Nights' and 'Carnival Kids' seem to do the trick. For now at least, because as first impressions go News And Tributes looks set to be filed under the sections marked "Curiosity" and "Uneasy Listening".

Main Futureheads photo by Sonia Melot