We finally make our way to the front of the queue and through the bag searches and Frenzal Rhomb are already on. I'm not sure what to make of them really, as I'm rather dazzled by the singer's dreadlocks and red tartan suit, the guitarist looking very non-rock in a glamorous, backless evening dress and suspenders, ah but the BOY can rock! And the crowd are already jumping around like maniacs. Although it has to be said it is a very young crowd, apart from the occasional parent that is, so there's a lot of youthful enthusiasm on display.
Next tonight are Capdown, English ska punkers. But Capdown are also a whole big mish-mash of musical styles; ska, funk, metal and all at 100miles per hour. The bassist plays the whole set with his back to the crowd and the singer, well he's split between playing saxophone and vocal duties, but still manages to run, jump, wave his arms around, lie on the floor and grin like a man possessed. In fact if I'd arrived mid way through their set, I'd think he was a crazed Capdown fan who'd managed to invade the stage. The crowd love them and are having almost as much fun as the band. Capdown give it their all and then some.
In October 2000 Less Than Jake played at The Garage in Glasgow with MxPx. Now six months later they're playing to a capacity crowd at The Barrowlands. So is it a much-changed Less Than Jake we now see before us? Well no, but they do seem bemused by their current popularity, "Yeah last time it was just that guy, that guy, you there and you." But it's still the same old mix of fast, breezy skacore, cabaret and anecdotes. This time round they opt for more material from the 'Losing Streak' album where a less cynical band would have been shamelessly flogging their latest album. They still try to entertain in as many ways as possible and they do it well, although it's possibly better received in a more intimate setting than this.
The stage is a riot of musicians running around wearing wigs, dancing and putting on their own little sideshow in between playing. They inform us that the best 'circle run' they've seen was at the Garage the last time they played in Glasgow, so they try for a repeat performance, pointing out a fan roughly in the middle of Barrowlands for everyone to run around. And run they do, an incredible sight actually but how did they all know to run the same way? They play an encore of 'Gainesville Rock City' and the old Kool & the Gang favourite (eh?) 'Celebration', during which paper streamers start to fall from the ceiling and enclose the front ten rows. Complete madness and fun all the way. Catch them soon, before they're on the stadium circuit.
