Anyone here expecting an evening of discussion on the pro's and con's of the leaving the family dog on the back seat of the Mondeo in the height of summer, as the name suggests, soon scarpered when pre-support band Silversuit appeared.

A little Murray the Hump, a touch of The Kink's and a truckload of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, these Welsh/Brummie hybrids wear their influences well, and just when you think the moment is becoming all C86 tweeness they up the ante, hammering away for all it's worth, feed-back and noise wrestling with Valhalla for thunder space - a slight exaggeration - but very splendid indeed.

Unsure what is in the pipeline for John-Paul White and cohorts but am sure it will be mighty fine.
Last week the charts literally strained under the weight of Franz Ferdinand and Michelle McManus waving the flag for Scotland, could the coming weeks be a repeat of that for Dogs Die In Hot Cars? Doubtful.

There is the oft discussed name for a start, it's enough to confuse radio playlists. Are they rock? Are they rubbish? And in the likelihood of war they will have to change their name to Dogs and that is not very polite is it?

Then we have the music. The world does not need another XTC, or a Hot Hot Heat for that matter. This current 80s revival has the shelf life of a Pop Idol. Flock of Seagull's spring to mind, it was embarrassing then, even more so now.

But to be fair they appear to play without this current 80's revival in mind, more of a homage to Scottish music than style copyists, singer Craig MacIntosh even unwittingly dresses like Jim Kerr, which is akin to home-girl Jamelia playing Party in the Park in a Neds Atomic Dustbin t-shirt - now that's respect.

Rather than plunder cheesy rock or the electro sound DDIHC bring us the New Year Eve party sounds of the Dexys, not surprising then that DDIHC have just recorded 12 tracks with Clive Langer who has worked with Dexy's. A set laden with hooks from the eccentric end of the eighties. Dungarees and polka dot cravats would not go amiss though.

The Zutons

Next up the utterly indescribable The Zutons, tonight's co-headliners, which appear to be why the majority of the crowd are here, for it is The Zutons that have the singles, the sounds, the looks and the style.

Bursting on to the smallest of stages,huddled together gives the audience a sense of familiarity, warts and all. Its not just the primal scream of Dave McCabe that reminds you they have arrived, it's the group as a whole.

They work together as though life it's self depended on it. Growling, pulsating they grow and grow. It's saxophonist Abi Harding that contains the monster within.

The singles that create the biggest response, last years 'Creepin' An' A Crawlin' and current single 'Pressure Point' add fuel to the already overheating confines of The Academy 3.

The Zutons gave us a performance of what is likely to be album of the year 'Who Killed The Zutons'. One small thing, you've never worked a 'Railroad' in your life so stop your fibbing.