British Sea Power @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, 21/01/2008

Initial support band John and Jehn, wandering onto stage looking like a couple of Dickensian Opium fiends, seemed, if anything, a little bored with the proceedings. Calling them "Bohemian" would neither cover the classical dress sense nor their "We are from London, but we hate London" attitude. Instead it appears that they are actually a couple of post-modern French existentialists out for a good time. The kids today, eh?

For most of the time, John plays guitar and programs the drum machine, while Jehn plays keyboards and occasionally plays bass on tracks such as "Make Your Mum Proud". It is one of those occasions where you aren't sure what's missing until its there. As soon as Jehn picks up her bass, they seem to find their groove for their last two tracks. But it seems to be a bit too late for this set, at least.

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Make Model, I have to admit, I was not exactly looking forward to. After seeing them play a fairly boring set at the muddy inaugural Connect Festival in Scotland, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic. However, either they have improved or I have become less immune to their particular take on twee Scottish Indie-Pop. Playing their first gig in Portsmouth, the EMI-backed sixtet played some songs I recognised alongside some newer tracks such as latest single "The Was", presumably for their forthcoming album, probably out this time next year.

While they never really break any new ground, they are fairly pleasant exponents of the twee-pop genre, yet in a more similar vein to Belle and Sebastian than their welsh contemporaries Los Campesinos.

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No foliage and less frolics, this new-look and slightly more serious British Sea Power tore through their set which borrowed heavily from their latest album, Do You Like Rock Music?

Walking on stage to opener "All In It", BSP regulars Yan, Hamilton and Noble began "Lights Out For Darker Skies" alongside their replacement drummer Tom White of the Electric Soft Parade and Brakes, as usual stickman Wood (far left, on picture above) is out injured. Also included are the touring viola player Abi Fry (who also tours with Bat For Lashes) and one man Horn section Phil Sumner.

An early set highlight is "Canvey Island", which is swiftly followed by older song "Remember Me". Soon Hamilton takes over vocal duties for new album track "Down On The Ground" as well as "How Ever Will I Find My Way Home?" from their 2005 LP Open Season.

While White is an able and competent drummer, the chemistry is missing and Wood is definitely noticeable by his absence on some tracks. However, the rest of the band are on good form and play on to a slightly more mature, and increasing indifferent crowd. While the front few rows are still vying for space with their elbows, equally to BSP classics such as "Fear of Drowning" and most recent single "Waving Flags", further back, Make Model may as well still be on stage for all anyone else seems to notice.

While even the front few stop moving around during instrumental track "The Great Skua", the pace is picked up with another Open Season track "Please Stand Up". Later, after live favourite "The Spirit of St. Louis", guitarist Noble climbs aboard the PA system, and stays there for almost the entirety of main set closer "True Adventures".

The encore includes next single "No Lucifer" and Decline Of... track "Carrion, followed by the traditional semi-improvised "Rock In C", following the tradition of trashing the stage and Noble getting up on Hamilton's shoulders.

Even though their latest has been their best charting album (at number 10 this week), and the band probably put little less than a foot wrong tonight, from the crowd's reaction it seems, unfortunately and unjustly so, that they aren't as relevant as the rest of the Indie tripe. A critically acclaimed band with a small but hardcore following they remain.

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