It's a roasting Sunday evening and it's Awful Band Name Night down at the Barfly. The audience is so sparse that the bands are playing in the upstairs bar rather than the more spacious venue downstairs. Things aren't looking good...

Due to a last-minute change to the support acts, the name of the first band isn't advertised which is a shame since although they deliver an inventive, if uncertain blend of sinister keyboards and guitars, anyone they won over in the crowd has no idea who they are. Their nerves mar an otherwise solid performance, especially when their singer follows an interesting cover of 'You Spin Me Right Round' with a sheepish mutter of "I don't think we'll ever play that again".

Imagine my surprise when I find that Skullrocket don't actually play the God-awful amateur metal I was expecting, although the drone-rock they produce is just as bad. Despite being accomplished musicians, their songs last a fortnight EACH and are in need of ideas, let alone tunes. Plus their singer has the voice of Ian Curtis trapped in the body of Frank Black, and I don't think I have to tell you how scary that is.

So far, so varied. Come on, Marshan: it's up to you to tip the balance. Thankfully, Marshan are brilliant. Energetic, loud and most importantly armed with many many great songs, they look set to inject the rock scene with some much-needed excitement. The crowd nearly doubles in size when they take to the stage (although I suspect that many of the new arrivals are friends of the band) and the reaction is frenzied to say the least. "This is for all the people who have to go to work tomorrow morning" says singer Graeme Duff before launching into a fantastic 'Mind Drive'. Judging by tonight's performance, the days when he was one of those people are firmly behind him.

Rating: 4/5 by Heather Crumley

Further links

Marshan rock.com

Official home of eclectic rock band Marshan