368 SLEEPER, Rialto, Libido, Swindon Oasis, Saturday 21 February 1998

Had a spare ticket for this one, but I couldn't even give it away outside, as it was nowhere near a sell-out, and everyone showing up already had tickets, with a lot of spares floating around as well. D'oh! Popped into the Oasis main hall - an odd venue for me, as this is where I play badminton! - for the opening set from Libido, 3 Norwegian rockers who have released my favourite single of 1998 so far (OK, it's only February, I know!) with the deliciously poppy "Overthrown". They played a most intriguing and challenging set of guitar rock; the early Wonderstuff comparisons of their splendid driving single were the only obvious influence reference points from a fine set I'd like to see in a small venue. "We split up last night, so this is kind of a reunion set for us," the vocalist told us. Erm, glad to have them back then!

Wandered around the venue, bumping into friends and Level 3 people alike, before Rialto's set. Despite featuring Kinky Machine's former mainman Louis, this lot are aiming more for a 60's B movie soundtrack cinematic urban pop feel, rather than the knockabout Kinks-like tunes of the Kinkies. One number, "Underdogs", was a total copy of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by the Walker Brothers! Good taste therefore, so I nevertheless liked them, especially their soaring single "Untouchable", which was the first of the set in which the double drummers actually drummed different patterns! However, I thought it notable that my favourite of the set, "Skyscraper", was the one which sounded most like Kinky Machine. Hmmm...

Anyway, Sleeper. I've been consistently disappointed by their patchy recorded output (the splendid "Delicious" notwithstanding), but have always enjoyed their fizz and energy "live", so I pretty much disregarded pre-gig stories of their impending demise, and lack of interest and ticket activity causing tour venue downsizing. However from the off tonight they were poor; the mix was thin and reedy, rendering me unable to really hear much from either of the 2 guitarists, and they played their now dated-sounding Britpop like a band going through the motions, with little bite or enthusiasm. I even decanted to the bar awhile, bumping into some similarly disappointed Level 3 regulars in the process, and returned only for "Delicious" which even seemed flat and limp.

So, I left at 10.30, before the end of their set, to get home for "Match Of The Day". Verdict? Well, I'd seen a couple of fine bands with potential and on their way up tonight, but neither of them were Sleeper.

371 LIBIDO, GLITTERBOX, Ballroom, Bristol Fleece, Monday 13 April 1998

A veritable Easter Monday "Posse" field trip, this one, with 7 of us descending on the "Seven Stars" to meet up before the gig. This being necessary, of course, as I had the tickets to get us in! Gained entry to the sparsely populated venue at 8.30, just as Ballroom took the stage. Despite still being derivative of the current Suede/ Radiohead school of angst, this was a much improved Ballroom set, with a bit of fire and passion where there was previously precious posturing.

Clive's current hot tips, Glitterbox, were next up. I joined the one-man moshpit down the front and had a rocking time to this excellent set, from a fine new guitar band with an expansive and well-rocking sound, semi-American in feel but also chunky and radio-friendly, rather like Cottonmouth (Lemonheads support from last October). The band's flippant style and delivery was also entertaining, and made for a great set which received the thumbs up from the boys.

Headliners Libido, on the other hand, polarised opinion more, despite (in my view of course!) once again coming up with a good and challenging guitarry set which I took the opportunity of having a good bop to. I dunno, they remind me a little of Pale Saints mixing it up with Daryll Ann, which pitches them on the difficult and experimental side of the guitar rock spectrum, but then "Overthrown", their best number, is a totally catchy pop blast, like a poppy Wonderstuff number! Anyways'up, I enjoyed them again!