Ah, a return to the good old days. Not, I hasten to add, a reference to the BBC TV programme of the 70s where this lot would probably have been as welcome as a lion at a Christian prayer meeting, but a journey to the long forgotten shangri-la of the infectious three minute pop song.

The Boat Race is the perfect venue to see bands like My Friend Irma (very sensibly shortened to MyFI rather than MFI), it’s intimate enough to get up close and personal with the band, whilst having the size of stage and PA to a band like MyFI justice.

Having said that, the band don’t seem to need much help tonight: They’re disappearing off into the studio in a couple of weeks to start recording a new album and judging by their stage presence they’re working off a whole bunch of energy before they go. Lead from the front by Jenni Thomas and Tom Kendon, who share vocal, gyratory and general winding up the audience duties, My Friend Irma launch into a set that thrashes rock and roll to within an inch of its life with various punk and rock related instruments. That the rock and the roll survive as a solid if bleeding heavily foundation, is a testament to the strength of the rhythm section but the glamour in the music, and there’s oodles of it, is to be found at the front end of the band. The front persons flounce, cavort and bounce their way through a collection of songs that offer a passing nod to the B52s amongst others, but are mostly a 21st century punk pop spin on some sound rock ’n roll basics.

Best viewed from the middle of a mosh pit with your beer goggles on.

Justin Coleman