At just before 9pm on Thursday 28th October the doors of NTU opened to what looked to be a night of quality music from three of Rough Trade Records most promising signings.
There was barely enough time for the crowd to purchase a drink from the bar before Pellumair took to the stage to provide a very mellow overture to the evenings live music. The duo from Southampton managed to capture the attention of the (at this point small) crowd with their melodic Radiohead-esque numbers.
Pellumair's simplicity is refreshing and the moods, harmonies and melodies that they create with just 2 guitars and 2 voices are both powerful and moving. Unfortunately for them the Union was only starting to get busy with a steady flow of people arriving as they were leaving the stage.
Second on the bill were Hal, who in my opinion were the best band of the night. Bringing their very own brand of 60s guitar pop it is hard to pin down quite who it is that they sound like. With parts that resembled The Stones, The Hollies and at times even The Beach Boys, this is a definitely a band to keep a look out for.
When The Delays took to the stage, guitarist and vocalist Greg Gilbert announced sarcastically that this was the last night of a 'mammoth 2 week tour'. They have recently toured the US as special guests to British band of the moment Franz Ferdinand.
The Delays began a set of the jangly guitar-based melodies that has helped their debut album 'Faded Seaside Glamour' receive modest success and extend their fan base to what is now a very loyal following. 'Nearer Than Heaven' their current single was the second song they played and was received very well by the crowd.
I had read that while on tour with Franz Ferdinand The Delays had been trying out some of the material that will be on their forthcoming follow up album. This material seems to be coming away from the west coast guitar pop and incorporating a more electronica based feel.
While this is obviously the direction the band wants to move in, I found it difficult to truly appreciate in the context of tonight's gig. With the bar closing at dead on eleven o'clock (while the band were still on stage), what was looking like a promising night ended a little too abruptly.
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