The Louisiana is packed for this one. I have consciously avoided any contact with the music in case it puts me off going, we have some of The Crimea's MP3s at home, I am told they are whimsical, have been described as folk rock and I might not like them. Still, ever on a quest to discover new and wonderful music (or a sucker for punishment) I commit, go out, get drunk and have a pretty good time anyway.

The Heights are playing as we arrive, jagged, tight songs that sound like most bands of the moment whose names begin with 'the'. There are a couple of notable exceptions, but this band don't like telling you what their songs are called. Occasionally the guitarist is allowed to show his true skills and hammers out some hard funky rock riffage, which makes for some pretty good songs. The closing number is a faux-country blues rock with modern sensibilities but is driving and energetic and my head nods involuntarily. This band have the makings of pop-rock stardom, notmycupoftea most of the time, but there you go.

The DJ is playing the Mars Volta as we head back to the bar. On our return, it proves to have been a fitting interlude as People In Planes are similar, with elements of Radiohead in there as well. They have progressive-sounding rock songs with difficult choruses and lots of variety, some great harmonies and musical intensity. And none of those plodding 'the' band pop songs, oh wait, there's one. Only one though, and it doesn?t last long. Hilariously my companion doesn't really like them at all and thinks that The Heights are much better. He is wrong.

At last it is time for The Crimea to show me what they're made of. They have a scarey bass player, Christmas lights around the drum kit and the guitarist has a bicycle light gaffered to his guitar. Mid-paced, quirky half acoustic music ensues, the singer has a strange affectation to his voice and moves like a robot.

At points the 'whimsy' becomes a little too much, too sickly sweet, but there are some strong songs in there. They play their pop singles in the encore as bubbles are pumped out over the audience, people sing along, and a good time is generally had by all but I can't help the feeling that they have somehow missed an opportunity to make their strangeness popular, by writing these quaint simple ditties. Overall, the set is more fast-paced than I'd expected and despite the pop and the bubbles I still manage to have a good time.

Band of the evening though, are the poorly named People in Planes by quite some way. I get very drunk and work tires me out so I completely fail to go out the next evening to my other planned gig.