I arrived just in time for Jerkin The Rat's set. I'd not seen these guys perform for so long I'd started to think the outfit was defunct, and the band revealed during the set that it had been over a year since their last outing. You might expect such a gap to dull their abilities but that was not the case, clearly JTR have found time to rehearse as this was a different band to the one I'd seen before – the same guys, although their bassist has managed to grow an impressive wizard-like long white hair and beard combo. The sound has morphed into more of a meaty, solid rock proposition than before. Only the band's signature tune, a story song about Jerkin' himself, reminds me of the band's past, but it's much, much tighter now.

Next up are Prince Vaseline, who are also sounding extra-polished tonight, having recently finished a new EP which is due for release September 30th 2016 on Love Thy Neighbour. The band are studio-tight and the new material they showcased tonight sounds really compelling. I'm particularly taken by their latest single 'Animal Man' which sounds much bigger than it reasonably should be able to in the packed confines of The Prince Albert pub. This is a band who arrived with a fully-developed sound back in late 2014/early 2015 which was fully evident on their début A Naturally Coloured Pleasure, they've stuck to their guns with that early blueprint, but to my ears tonight the newer material is sounding stronger and catchier. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the forthcoming On An Island EP.

Octopuses are up next and by the time they take to the stage the room is sweaty and heaving. It's a struggle to get down to the front to try and grab a few photos. The band have achieved quite a coup launching their Not The Bees EP, taken from their début album Yes Please and backed by several new songs that were recorded at the same time. Their efforts to promote bee conservation with this release have led to support from such diverse corners as Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, wildlife presenter Chris Packham and movie star Rosario Dawson whose tweet endorsements have helped catapult their hilarious, yet serious, music video towards reaching a new audience, raising awareness of the very troubling plight of our bees. The video gets nods in the outfits of guitarist Smalan Odgers, sporting the bee-keeper's head-gear, and bassist Rob Grice, who also sang lead vocals for much of the Jerkin The Rat set, styling the better part of a bee costume.

The band lean heavily on new tracks from their forth-coming, as yet unrecorded, second album tonight. Highlights include the mid-set one-two of 'Farmer' and 'Frogger', both wildly different from each other but great examples of the irreverent humour that follows Octopuses wherever they go. Yes Please gets largely ignored in favour of the new stuff, although we do get a blast of familiar tracks at the end of the set, including a strong rendition of popular single 'Cool Story Bro' and, of course 'Not The Bees' sounding triumphant before an eager crowd who all know the words to the chorus. It's telling that this crowd are no less exuberant before this newer material, a great sign for Octopuses. They've always been a band with a glint of comedy genius in their arsenal, it's fantastic to see that being put to such good use and for their conservation efforts to be so well received by an excitable home crowd.
Adam Kidd

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