Live Review: The Spitfires, I, Said The Sparrow, Mezzanine, Order Of The Black, Werewolf, Odlaw

There's a certain buzz of anticipation usually saved for the most special of occasions, and The Spitfires' last show before leaving the country for good certainly had it. The momentous occasion was kicked off by newcomers Odlaw, who worked the crowd with some incredibly catchy indie rock tracks, filled to the brim with memorable hooks. Order Of The Black Werewolf proved themselves to be a very versatile group; one minute the three-piece would be thrashing about to a fast and high-energy punk track and the next they'd slow down and play more brooding sounds. Their last track was a highlight of the evening, a real Doors-esque epic that built up to a crescendo of chaos before crumbling down.

Mezzanine proved they are the masters of soaring pop-rock, and did a great job of keeping the audience on their toes. Towering and powerful were favourites Mannequin Man and Someone To Abuse, while Strange Paradise brought on a more brooding, reflective tone. The group also included a fantastic cover of Pixies' Where Is My Mind? and it seemed to slot in all too well. I, Said The Sparrow may have sounded slightly out of place on the bill, but they most certainly made an impression on the crowd as they took command with a blistering rock performance. The band seem to have found a perfect balance of light and shade, with heavy hooks and a pleasant aura, which is sure to have gained them a bunch of new fans after their show.

Finally, it was time for The Spitfires, and it was obvious from the outset that Sean Regan was ready and rearing to make this final show a memorable one. The trio managed to squeeze over 20 tracks into their final show, with a fresh-faced drummer tagging in to replace Lauren from The Shakeys roughly halfway through the set in his first and last performance with the band. The band and audience alike gained momentum throughout the show, with standout singles Radio Control and Suffer Kate coming towards the end of the set, but the crowd put in extra enthusiasm for the band's two-song encore. Regan signed off with “Let's chat and get pissed” in his scouser drawl, and it seemed a perfect way to end the Spitfires' story thus far. We wish them all the best.