The Rifles, Milburn, The Michelles - 93 Feet East, London - Thursday 9th March 2006

For me, despite them only being the support band, tonight was about Milburn. Having seen them before supporting the Arctic Monkeys, most recently at the Leadmill in January, they have all the hallmarks, and all the great songs, of a band that will see significant success this year. Since January, they have signed to a major record label, and have a single, Send In The Boys due for release later this month, with its video already over MTV2.

With The Rifles, who are not so shabby themselves, also headlining, this gig makes a 240-capacity venue seem ridiculously small - it could have sold out many times over, or been moved somewhere much bigger. The fact that it wasn't, makes this gig something of a special event, with both bands just about to move onto bigger things, and many people locked outside whilst it all happens.

First band on were The Michelles, who admitted that they were playing their biggest gig. They did have a couple of good songs, but were not exactly what you would describe as a tight band, and their set seemed quite disjointed, with lots of faffing around between songs. Despite this, the audience was pretty large, and pretty supportive of them - not a bad band, but definitely in need of polishing for playing better live.

By the time Milburn came on stage, the venue was packed. The singer emerged wearing a Rifles t-shirt, and the set was a total triumph from the word go. Hugely better than the last time I saw them - partly because I'd been listening to more Milburn songs in the meantime, but also, as objectively as possible, because they were just much better.

Bantering with the crowd, and clearly revelling in playing in front of an audience that knew the words and the chords, they were better than a lot of headline bands I've seen. They now have the sharpness as a live band, to go with the great songs - Milburn are starting to become big, and I will be following them around as far as possible to witness it happening.

The Rifles aren't a bad band either, with several good tunes, and sounding a bit like the Jam - which is always unlikely to go down too badly at a guitar gig in London. I suspect that, although they are also starting to acquire a decent fanbase, and will probably do well this year - that Milburn will eclipse them in terms of popular appeal, especially outside the South East. Two excellent bands, good luck to both.