There are many great acts which have come out of the American New Wave scene. From the early tremors of Sonic Youth, Beach Buggy, Drop Nineteensand The Pixies to the recent resurgence from bands such as Modest Mouse, American Analogue Set, Radio On The TV, Deerhunter and two incredible albums from tonight’s headliners Silversun Pickups.

There were support acts tonight, but both An Horse and Animal Kingdom were so woefully average and bland they’re barely worth a mention, we’d like to tell you of the good bits from both performances but ultimately both sets and both bands merged together to make one massive sludge of dullness. Leaving the stereo on for an extra 90 minutes would have been a better option tonight.

There’s something about Silversun Pickups that makes you feel welcome. From the minute they walk onto the stage waving and smiling to the final jangly chord rattled out of their warm fender amps, there is a sense of being part of the gang, it’s not so much a performance but more a get together of old friends over a bottle of wine, chips and dip.

The crowd is very much dedicated and the front few rows we’re tightly compressed with the cool kids, barely a single face over 20, bopping back and forth, raising hands to the sky and dancing like it was ’99. Both old and new material receives a welcome response. The most recent single Panic Switch grapples with your ears like a basement bar fight unfolding before your eyes, but for us the cherry on the cake comes from fan favourite Lazy Eye. It coasts down a San Francisco highway before careering violently off the road like Jimmy Dean – “You’re tearing me apart”.

We want to see more of Silversun Pickups, a perfect summer sound for what is turning out to be just that.

Silversun Pickups – Digital Fri 03.07.09