Gomez - 10th June O2 Academy, Bristol

After a performance like this one it is hard to see why Gomez are so criminally ignored in the UK.  Their growing support over in the US has allowed them to keep recording and touring after 7 studio albums and countless b-sides and live cd's in what has been a prolific 13 years since their Mercury Prize award in 1998.  With Ian, Ben and Tom sharing the vocals throughout a career-spanning set they appear to have some of the most talented singers around.

Opening with 'Shot Shot' the band are quickly into their stride.  A faster version than on 'In Our Gun', the song shows the versatility of a band who can call upon spectacular riffs, crashing drums and quality harmonies.  There's some good banter with the crowd resulting in a heckle about Ian's 'salmon coloured' trousers as Ben and co are in light-hearted mood throughout the set.  Ripping through the first half an hour, the band include seldom heard classic 'Hangover' which brings the three quarter filled venue to life and in truth has never sounded so good.  Gomez are most definitely a tight live band as demonstrated on further 'hits' such as 'Here Comes The Breeze' -the final part of which is frantically jammed to a close.  Further classics 'Make No Sound' and 'Airstream Driver' are polished and applauded loudly as the group mix rock and blues with technical superiority.

Including new songs of their recent album 'Whatever's On Your Mind' the band appear to have returned to a poppier sound.  'Options' has a killer hook that would rival anything produced by wealthier cousins the Arctic Monkeys and with equally witty lyrics it is hard to understand why they are denied airplay by the mainstream radio stations.  'See The World', a 4 minute lovesong with Ben at the helm again is greeted with enthusiastic cheers as chiming guitars and a killer chorus see the band at the top of their game.  'How We Operate' from the album of the same name is their Bohemian Rhapsody -the song has all the ingredients that make Gomez a cult triumph with Ben's raspy throat blistering vocals meeting edgy bass and punchy guitars in a rousing finale. 

A 2 song encore ends with a stunning version of 'Get Miles' in what results as a quality set from a quality band who are happy to do what they do best on the edges of the mainstream.  Gomez are unlikley to reach the commercial success of their first two albums in truth unless picked up by TV adverts or montage makers a la Elbow -they are however becoming Britain's best kept secret.

A mention too for support band Little Comets who are surely destined for greater things.  A quintet with a Razorlight and Holloways style fusion of angular guitars, calypso rhythms and a curious high wire of percussion instruments above their heads.  It won't be long before they will be back as headliners but the night very much belonged to Gomez.

Standout tracks:

Whippin' Picadilly

Airstream Driver

Make No Sound