The Rakes - Astoria, London - Thursday 2nd February 2006

Back to the wonderful London Astoria to see The Rakes for the first time in a while. Last time I saw them, they were busy supporting all manner of big or soon-to-be-big bands last Spring - I saw them support Kaiser Chiefs, but they've toured with Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and others in the meantime. After all that supporting, good to see them headlining a show for once!! And, the Astoria, alongside the other venues on this tour, represents a step up that they will hopefully be able to build on, especially after the commercial success of 22 Grand Job.

Having not heard all that many Rakes songs, and certainly not knowing more than 3 or 4 very well at all, expectations were cautious for this gig - but the band completely exceeded them. When you watch a band without knowing the songs, but they sound as good as The Rakes sounded, you know you are watching a decent band. With a very hardcore and committed band of fans at the front, going mad throughout, the atmosphere was electric throughout.The singer had all the moves of a Jarvis Cocker-a-like, and the lead guitarist, when his guitar was turned up loud, was providing some riffs that cut right through you in a very good way. An excellent set all round, to a rapturous audience. My only slight complaint is that the band were clearly preaching to the converted tonight, everybody loved them, and not knowing too many of their songs, I didn't share the full enthusiasm. I'd love to see them again as a support band, but I'm not quite hardcore enough as a Rakes fan to see them headlining too much more.