The past few months have certainly monopolised for The Feeling. A bunch of catchy singles tinged with the sound of pop from the 70s, a refreshing debut album that has been embraced by lovers who favour the simplicity and pleasantries of this quintet’s melodies and the fact the very youthful looking bass player is married to Ms Sophie Ellis-Bextor. More alarming, however, is the discovery frontman Dan Gillespie-Sells used to attend dance school with my best mate, Mojo in North London many moons ago. I’ve seen the show reel – a variety show of singing and dancing, with Gillespie-Sells standing next to Mojo and singing his wee heart out. And dancing. Dancing?! Weirdly though, his hair style was still the same back then – and this was about 13 years ago. Mojo is waiting for a scandalous story to break out before she approaches a tabloid paper with the video tape. Or you could put it on YouTube.com, love.

So Gillespie-Sells wisely made the unlikely transition from dancing shoes to the lead singer of one of the most talked about bands in the UK. Who cares you had to wear a banana-yellow coloured mac and sing in the background while a spoilt madam with curly blonde hair hogged the spotlight and bellowed out a tuneless solo effort when you’re responsible for coming up trumps with one of the most infectious pop records of 2006, eh? There is something instantly likeable about ‘Fill My Little World’ even if many prefer to mock it though deep down they secretly adore.

Three sold-out nights at the troublesome Empire is no joke and I say ‘troublesome’ because it’s not the best venue for gigs.  Often badly sound-rigged, the acoustics sound appalling plus it’s not the easiest places to get to, not with the delightful Hammersmith & City line to help you. But tonight I take it back (the bit about the sound levels) – The Feeling’s live sound is impeccably sharp and faultless. It’s a surprising change to be able to make out what someone is singing word-for-word unlike the occasion when I paid £50 to see Hard-Fi turn up the sound to ear-splitting level with me getting bored after 20 minutes, before sinking out of the crowd and running home early.

Strolling through debut album Twelve Stops & Home, the band who are delighted to be in their home town, are accompanied by a sea of mobile phones held aloft and videoing them. Interestingly, they play their most recognisable hits early on, but the gamble pays off for the Empire is still heaving at the end. The best is a rendition of Buggles ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, a live favourite and one which is uncannily not a million miles from the original yet so much fun to hear The Feeling do it.

So there you have it. No frills, no fuss, just pop stripped down to its bare necessities. You’re either bound to love them or best to turn away but don’t make your mind up till you’ve seen The Feeling live. Music doesn’t always have to be miserable, you know.

(4/5)