The Rapture, Astoria, 28 February 2007

The Rapture showed new rave’s pretenders how to party at their NME show.

With messy hair and funky t-shirts the quartet looked like they’d just come from Camden Market rather than NYC.

Their opening trademark cowbell-led infectious anthem Don Gone Do It got fans making shapes from outset, transforming the Astoria from gig to disco venue in seconds.

The band’s songs are ideal for a live setting as they fuse crashing guitars and mellifluous sax with thumping beats.

There was little need for banter as lead singer Luke Jenner danced and waved his guitar round like his skinny jeans were on fire for the set’s entirety.

He screamed the lyrics to explosive club favourite House of Jealous Lovers, to a raucous reception.

The pulsating rhythms of their encore Olio had crowd dancing like their jeans were on fire too as Jenner dived from the stage to join the party on the floor.

Young Knives, Shepherd's Bush Empire, 26 February 2007

Seeing the Young Knives is a bit like watching your Dad and his mates perform a drunken impromptu gig at a wedding reception only to discover they can actually play instruments surprisingly well.

Tweed suit wearing lead singer Henry Dartnall admitted to the crowd that they’re probably 10 years older than most bands on the NME tour, but band think its hip to be square and their fans love them all the more for it.

From former single She’s Attracted To, about a nightmare encounter with a new girlfriend’s parents, to B-side Kramer vs. Kramer, they play a set of deftly crafted songs bursting with pop punk guitar energy and catchy, witty lyrics.

There was sharp banter between Dartnall and his base playing brother The House of Lords as Dartnall said they felt a bit adventurous and asked the fans if they wanted him to take his top off. My guess is they probably didn’t given he’d dedicated their entire set to the love of chips.

A riotous crowd sang along as they ended with their spiky feel-good anthem Weekends and Bleak Holidays.

The Young Knives are one of the tightest the three pieces around but their set barely lasted an hour. More next time please.