The Pipettes LIVE

Well wouldn't you know it, I got stuck on Poolstock again. "Grrr" and all that.

Fairly straightforward trip to Manchester after that though and only the one circular path around the G-Mex this time to find parking for the wonderful Life Cafe.

And, as is becoming quite the habit these days, a pre-show drink turned into yet another episode of "Female Pop Stars stalk Matt & Alan" as this week we were "joined" by the Pipettes. Who are bloody lovely might I add. Little was I to know that this would be the best view I got of them all-night, but more of that later. ( I should also point out that we were also joined at one point by one of the support acts, the 1990's - but we didn't know who they were at that point).

So anyways, it was off to the venue in time to catch the last of the first support act. I can't remember their names off hand, (i'll check and EDIT it in later) but they were ok, if you like the sound of a Weezer-esque band who aren't as good as Weezer. The second support act, the afforementioned 1990's, were actually quite good. They certainly got my feet stomping on quite a few occasions, and really there aren't enough rock bands who "whoooooo" during their songs (and yes, I did attempt to "whoooo" along with them). One to perhaps look out for.

So onto the main event...not that I could see the stage. Some amongst us may like the sweaty close up atmosphere of a gig like this, and whilst I'm not immune to swaying in the thronging masses, there's not much joy when you're at a venue where if you're not in the first two rows you can hardly see a damn thing.

Still, despite that minor irritant (which I somewhat negated with a perilous balancing act on the mixing desk) you couldn't really complain about the concert itself. Of course I'm quite familiar with a lot of the tracks already (ahh, the wonders of the internet) but there weren't any tracks that were let downs.

Particular favourites would have been the sublime singles Dirty Mind, Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me and Pull Shapes, along with Why Did You Stay, Tell Me What and the ever delightful We Are The Pipettes. Sure the concert was short (clocking in somewhere in the region of 35 minutes) and, yes, the Pipettes are somewhat of a one-trick pony, but when they're as good as this, all that doesn't really matter. So much so, that I've already booked tickets for the September tour. I'd advise you to do the same whilst you still can...the Pipettes are about to go massive.