A typical indie band with keyboards, on record they’re more like Radiohead or compatriots Mew, but live they come across a bit heavier - almost like a less droning Joy Division. We’re impressed from the off.

Dubliners Bell X1 start wistfully, with singer Paul Noonan barely accompanied for the first song. It’s looking like it could be a little dull, but thankfully after easing the crowd in, the set picks up. Initially the band sound like REM, with the somewhat cheeky lyrics of ‘Next To You’ ("I'm not over you, can I get back under") and harmonica solo. They build up to the multi-layered crescendo of their penultimate song - they’re more convincing when rocking - before calming us down again with their finale, where Paul’s voice sounds scarily similar to Alanis Morissette.

Aqualung themselves take to the stage around 9:40, Matt starting on guitar for ‘Left Behind’, before taking his place sat at the candle-lit piano centre stage for the rest of the show. Drawing mostly from his second album Still Life, he treats us to the likes of ‘7 Keys’ and ‘Easier To Lie’, with a few old songs such as ‘Good Times Gonna Come‘ and ‘Falling Out Of Love’ sprinkled in.

It occurs to me this is probably the first gig I’ve been to where no one’s even dancing, much less moshing. Perhaps it’s a sign I’m getting old, though at 22 I’m one of the youngest in the crowd. It’s not lost on Matt though, who introduces ‘Another Little Hole’ with talk of getting old and the announcement he’s due to become a father in June. That doesn’t mean he’s lost his sense of humour though – another digression on an underwater theme leads to a quick rendition of ‘Octopus’s Garden’ and ’Yellow Submarine’ before we get back on track with ‘You Turn Me Round’.

On the subject of drowned lovers, Matt pauses to reflect on his music. When I’m happy I write depressing songs, he muses, and when I’m down, I don’t write. Well, he must’ve been in a good mood then when he wrote ’Strange & Beautiful’ – probably still his only big hit – and, after introducing the band, the surprisingly upbeat finale of ‘Brighter Than Sunshine’, introduced by his observation that "when you’re in love you feel stupid".

After this, the band depart the stage, but Matt is soon back to give us a solo rendition of the Coldplay-esque ‘Extraordinary Thing’, before being joined by his comrades again to round the encore out with ‘If I Fall’. Perhaps what stops Aqualung reaching Coldplay status is that though they have the songs (which go some way to setting them apart from the other bands tonight) it takes some effort from the listener to get into and appreciate them. Still, Matt comes across as a genuine nice guy. It’s off to USA and Germany next – Matt claiming to be the UK’s answer to David Hasselhoff - let’s hope they can get in on the act.
(4/5)

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