Live Review: Summer Flake, Cannon, Screaming Match, Thigh Master, Cured Pink

This fine Sunday sees an eclectic garage mecca form at the Beetle Bar with a good crowd coming out in support on a weekend of highlights.

Looking around, it is clear that Cured Pink are opening eyes of the weary-eyed, hung-over punters from the night before – and what an opener. Minus a bassist, the band is without a doubt one of the most natural bands of playing unnatural music in town. The set is an effects wonderland as trumpets lay the groundwork over sporadic guitars and even at one point the country-tinged vocals of mastermind Andrew McLellan and the head-scratching, deep drum kit. Always a highlight and a great way to start the early evening.

Thigh Master follow and the kids clearly have energy heightened by fill-in drummer Dusty Anastassiou. The set has no faults in its delivery and each track resonates with the crowd. Vocalist Matt Ford's vocals are also noteworthy, with each line screamed out with an appropriate amount of strain adding to the garage atmosphere.

As the beers flow, the spirits are continually kept high with Screaming Match – all three standing members looking really happy to be there. The set takes its cues from '90s bands of the same nature, yet the girls and guy really achieve a natural flow within their set, a few sound issues aside.

Despite the fact it's 7pm on a Sunday, Cannon can still manage playing and possessing the charisma as if they have already made their way through a few cartons of tinnies. The set is loose yet well defined as the organised mess sprawls through their ever impressive catalogue of one-to-two-minute gems. Girls is a mid-highlight package of noise that is instantly hummable while latest outing It's Cool, No Worries spawns a point where the dancing audience nearly steal the band's closing thunder in terms of showmanship.

In a blink of an eye the stage is turned around and Summer Flake kick off as punters still try to get drinks. Launching their latest record You Can Have It All, Summer Flake begin as debatably the most subdued/professional band of the gig, but as the group respond to audience calls for Metallica, it is clear that they are having as much fun as the crowd. The set is a bit troubled with some mixing issues but it generally doesn't deter with the guitar sounding (and looking) as if it just came off an early '90s indie/slacker vinyl, which opens with a song similar to the band name. The set's highlight comes in the form of initial set closer Just Fine, which borders on psych crossed with Wicked Game and really nails the groove and sounds as if it could have gone on for another seven-eight minutes. Things do continue via a Joy Division half-cover at the crowd's request, and all in all it is a well realised set that brings up the spirits of a regular dreary Sunday.