Live Review: Black Cab, The Infants

The times they are a-changin' at Yah Yah's and tonight's line-up is a fitting mix of the older and the new. Before the good people of Cherry Bar take on the running of Smith Street's favourite dive, the outgoing team celebrates the end of an era with one last Saturday night show.

The Infants get up and start cutting a few more teeth with their self-described “harrowing and heady” rock. Lead vocalist Blaise Adamson is fascinating to watch. She's draped head to toe in shapeless black – theatrically sombre and intense. Her wide eyes stare straight ahead, never once softening into smiles. Does she need a hug? Subsequent death-metal shrieks, whiplashing head-bangs and fervent thrashing about indicate perhaps not. Insane drumming by Jack Normoyle results in a busted drumstick and a plea to the crowd for a spare. Bass player Chris Morse also adds a great groovable beat to the band's overall hard-rock sound. Ending the set with an awesome high-kick over the drums, Adamson well and truly shows her potential as a mesmerising frontwoman with attitude.

Black Cab take a break from producing their fourth album to appear onstage next: lead singer Andrew Coates undertakes synth, laptop and lead vocal responsibilities with style; James Lee takes care of all knob twiddling while evidently blissed-out in the vibe of the thing; and drummer Wes Holland bashes a cymbals-only kit to add extra punctuation to the driving beats. The music is seductive yet soothing and the crowd slowly enter trance-like states while they dance. The show's so compelling that it's over before anyone notices the time.

Howls for an encore bring the band straight back on for one last round of pumping electro beats. One punter is overheard telling her girlfriend, “I think that was the best gig I've been to.” This is well-deserved praise for the band booker.