Foals, 27/11/2007 @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The Followills have captured so ne'er do well new-rave refugee with a telecaster wandering around in the desert. At least that was my first impression of the band first on tonight, Kentucky 5-piece Cage the Elephant. Based around Schultz brothers Matt (vocalist) and Brad (Rhytm Guitar and wearer of all things red), their resemblance to the Kings Of Leon plus one is uncanny.

Although initially the influences seem to be rather obvious classic rock during opener "In One Ear", they begin to live up to their appearance during their second song "Soil To The Sun", which could easily have been a hijacked KoL B-side. However, the band really come into their own during "No Rest For The Wicked", Despite this being another heavily derivative track (this time sounding like Red Hot Chili Peppers before they got a bit rubbish), the bands musical, if not their creative, skills shine through.

Obviously still excited after supporting Queens of The Stone Age stateside and set to tour with The View and The Wombats shortly, they are a band to watch for the future.

http://www.myspace.com/cagetheelephant

The next band to face the cynical nodding and the sceptically folded arms were hotly tipped New Zealanders Cut Off Your Hands, althought they arguably received a better reception, even despite lead singer, Nick's belief that "no one in here wants to party" along with his inclination to leap into a crowd of despairingly indifferent fans and climb onto speakers that are already nearly touching the ceiling.

Although they got better as the set went on and as Nick decided to calmed down a bit, their jangly powerpop soon gets boring as each song is as formulaic as the last. Their best, or at least most memorable song was a cover by The Sonics. Whose name I forget.

http://www.myspace.com/cutoffyourhands

Not long after Foals came on, ditching the formerly infamous Gwen Stefani introduction that they used to perform, and, after Yannis broke a string that was hastily replaced by some helpful members of Cut Off Your Hands, they soon made up for this with a host of songs, old and new, that seem set to feature on their debut album.

Unfortunately for them however, theirs and tonight's two biggest songs, the amazing "Hummer" and equally danceable "Matheletics", are apparently not set to feature on their LP by their own choosing. A risky move perhaps, but with every indiephile worth his salt surely already to be found with these mp3s on their computer already, they appear to be banking on the strength of their other material, which tonight doesn't fail to impress, with highlights including "Cassius" and "Oxford Step".

In fact, the band seem to be going from strength to strength and gaining in confidence, with Yannis finally getting a voice when he needs to (although still singing with his back to half the crowd, perhaps for technical issues), and the band actually looking slightly less serious and slightly more like they were enjoying themselves.

While this particularly brand of Indie-dance isn't quite to everyone's taste, and it certainly seems as if they will not be the next band to make it big in the pop charts, they and their scenester fanbase wouldn't have it any other way.

Good, if not overwhelming, their debut album (minus "Hummer" and "Mathletics") looks set to be released via Transgressive In March next year.

http://www.myspace.com/foals