Live Review: The Dark Horses feat. Tex Perkins, Mike Noga

Upon entering the Corner tonight, it only takes a second to realise that, despite the long-term pulling power and near-godliness of Tex Perkins, tonight we're in intimate mode. The plush red curtain has been pulled out, and a cluster of tables and chairs sit front of stage, ready to accommodate any hopeful punter.

By the time Mike Noga takes to the stage, the chairs are all but full, the rest of us scattered around the room ready to enjoy the show. Accompanied by keyboardist Steve Heskell, the 45-minute set fits the venue well. Without striving for heights above his reach, Noga restricts himself to his comfort zone. He's out from behind the drum kit that he mans so well for, The Drones; instead, he's on acoustic guitar with raspy, broken vocals. His is a solid set, and the between-song banter is as good as we've come to expect from this rapscallion.

One of the best things about an intimate gig like this is that all the headline act's instruments are laid out and ready to go. There's only 15 minutes between Noga's conclusion and The Dark Horses taking to the stage. The billing of this show as The Dark Horses featuring Tex Perkins, rather than the other way around, is testament to the band's collective ability. Sure, Sexy Texy is still the main man, and patrols the stage with a swagger and a grin, but his band are more than a sum of their parts. Long-time collaborator Charlie Owen is in his element, jumping from instrument to instrument with glee. Drummer Gus Agars hits with purpose, and the rest of the band work with each other perfectly.

If there's a complaint, it's that some of the harmonies are a bit off and this reduces moments that could be brilliant to mediocrity. But it's hardly enough to take away from what is a great show. Drawing from the band's back catalogue as well as showcasing tracks from their latest album, Everyone's Alone, The Dark Horses please their audience, and even though they play for well over their allotted hour, it all feels much too short.