584 THE THRILLS, The Delays, Solar, Bristol Fleece, Sunday 30 March 2003

Saw this one in the NME classifieds, and took the opportunity for an intriguing Mother's Day gig! Drove down with Rachel, spotting deer on the way (always a good sign), and hit the venue at 10 to 8. First band Solar had just started, and played a pleasant set of quite tuneful mid-paced numbers, with good choruses a feature. One to watch, perhaps. Second support The Delays were on at 1/4 to 9 as the place filled up. An intriguing start, with good use of keyboard embellishment, faded mid-set into a blander, quieter experience. A little disappointing after that good start.

Found a spot near the front, stage left, as The Thrills came on at 10 to 10, to the backing track of Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days". I had only their beguiling surf-pop single "One Horse Town" to go on prior to this gig, but found this set a delightful blend of lazy hazy Summery tunes, delicious 3 part harmonies (for which I'm always a total sucker), Byrds-ish melody (a little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll), and self-effacing humility. The single and "Corey Haim" were my highlights of an excellent set loaded with potential and promise. It's verrrrrry early days yet, but this lot could be the best British band since Seafood. Let's wait and see...

595 THE THRILLS, The Delays, Oxford Zodiac, Monday 16 June 2003

Two gigs in two nights, as Rachel and I donned shorts and bopped down to Oxford for this sell-out gig from current music press faves The Thrills. Hit the venue at 7.30 and got stopped by the bouncer, who thought I was smuggling something into the venue under my shirt. He got a shock when he found out it was my hernia - he then called his fellow steward over, who also happened to be called David Rose (Andrew David Rose, that is), and who also had a hernia, although nowhere near as big as mine. Weird!

Right, medical report over, on with the gig review! Rach and I plonked down in the bar and chatted through an inconsequential, although better than before (although that wasn't difficult really), set from support The Delays. Scheduled support The Zutons were mysteriously missing; shame, as that would have been a useful "Z" in the gig alphabet!

Took up position in the uncomfortably large crowd, behind 2 guys whose heads I threatened to bang together if they elbowed me in the stomach! The Thrills joined us at 9.30 to a rapturous reception, and set to their task with humility and a fair amount of reverence for their music. The fey, Morrissey-esque stage presence of vocalist Conor Deasey was a feature throughout, and indeed this gig recalled early Smiths shows in their youthful optimism and anticipation of greater things to come. Musically, they were again a splendid melange of all your favourite 60's west Coast jangly pop and harmonic surf groups, with a toughened up "One Horse Town", featuring excellent 3-part harmonies, a highlight. Conor commented on what an honour it was to sell out Oxford on their first visit, but they'd better get used to that, as on the evidence of this show they're destined for greater things. Potential slowly being realised, although they still need room to grow and develop - and write more songs, as this set plus encore was barely 45 minutes. Another home by 11 job!