Troubadours @ CArling Academy Thurs 6th Sept 07 Review

16/10/2007 16:07:45 By

'We are much better up in Liverpool' - tuts guitarist Johnny Mol, ' you should come and see us up there' he says, as singer Mark Frith tunes his own guitar. In which case we should all up sticks and become scousers. Because these songs are so undeniably classic, they remind you why rock n roll was invented. Halfway through the set, the 'Gimme Love' single rattles past like a lazarus La's . Wonderfully its only the fourth or fifth best song in their set. They play with an easy confidence assured without trying too hard to whip the crowd up. The secret weapon is Elmo Watts who seems the most naturally rythmic drummer since Reni hung his beanie up. Set closer 'Where the rain falls' is a multi-harmonised haze Arthur Lee would smile down on Even better 'All the kings men' will be 2008's best single, shifting gears as it encapsulates the history of pop. They are utterly unstoppable. - 9/10, Channel 4 / Teletext