I don’t know what Martin Grech must think of that, because last time I saw him (almost three years ago) he was headlining upstairs in his own right, and now he’s supporting in front of just a few dozen people.

It’s notable from the moment he walks on stage things look different – he’s grown his hair, and is sporting a very low-slung guitar – and it’s backed up with a heavier sound, more Nine Inch Nails than Radiohead. Martin himself is still a unique frontman, going from choirboy vocals and strange hand gestures, to leaping around the stage thrashing his guitar like a man possessed, before turning his back and pounding on a drum for all he’s worth.

Despite the performance, he’s obviously still shy – not even speaking to the crowd until already breathless, and then only to fill a re-tuning interlude. Nonetheless, this is a great show and, while he’s turned in a less commercial direction since his big break (‘Open Heart Zoo’ featuring in a Lexus car advert), he’s still a very talented young man who deserves to go far.

Headliners Oceansize also played here two years ago, as frontman Mike Vennart says, supporting Kinesis. Back then, their set was so short they were limited to just four songs, but tonight they’re the band people are here to see. Beginning with the opening track off their new Everyone Into Position album, ‘The Charm Offensive’ it gets a good reception despite not being out until Monday.

Wisely the band decide to play some familiar songs early on, before wheeling off a train of newies – ‘Meredith’, recent single ‘Heaven Alive’ and ‘A Homage To Sorrow’ included. Modern heirs of bands like Led Zeppelin or The Who, Oceansize play grand epics, in which their three guitars constantly duel against electronics and the steady drumbeat. Seeing them live, it’s evident how much work goes into it. The floor is covered in pedals and buttons, guitars are changed between every song, and Mike even has two microphones for clean and distorted vocals.

The effort’s well worth it, as new songs are greeted appreciatively and a few older favourites like ‘One Day All This Could Be Yours’ lapped up rapturously. You’d hardly believe Mike’s claim to be pumped up on flu plus tablets, such is the intensity of some moments in the show – though where the band perhaps edge Grech is their greater restraint and accomplishment in the melodic moments. Perhaps it’s the cold, or technical problems, that mean they don’t quite live up to the live show of their support but, having seen similar bands struggle to maintain interest on the stage while producing lengthy post-rock soundscapes, Oceansize do it a lot better than most of their competitors. A great double header, and in a just world both these bands should be playing far larger arenas that fit the scale of their music.

(4½/5)

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