They've been away from planet rock for two years, but that's all changed now. Clark Ainsworth welcomes the return of Gomez...

In the pre-gig press Gomez vocalist and guitarist Tom Gray was reported as saying, "We're back from outer space with a big grin on our face..."

And the band who delighted and achieved critical and commercial success with their first two albums, Bring It On and Liquid Skin, have definitely been off the rock radar for some time.

2002's work in progress In Our Gun failed to set the world alight, but this special one-off gig was an opportunity for fans to enjoy the best of what Gomez can offer.

Ease

They opened with 'Get Miles' and as soon as Ben Ottewell's gravely vocals kicked in, you felt yourself wondering why they had ever been away.

The band didn't say much but they never needed to, looking very much at ease on stage despite the recent hiatus.

They whipped through the pounding 'Shot Shot' from In Our Gun, a funked-up version of 'Love is Better Than a Warm Trombone', and introduced new song 'Silence' all without fanfare.

But it wasn't until they played 'Here Comes The Breeze', followed by crowd favourites 'Get Myself Arrested' and 'Revolutionary Kind' that they moved into top gear.

Change

For a band that hasn't appeared live for a while Gomez certainly seemed slick, but then you always did get the feeling that their best songs came out of improvised jam sessions.

And their dragged-through-a-hedge look coupled with their egalitarian approach to fronting songs makes a real change from some of the over-styled bands around at the moment.

Gomez finished off with a rousing rendition of the sing-a-long student paean 'Whippin' Piccadilly'.

On the evidence presented tonight, it seems they haven't quite recaptured their songwriting form just yet - but I wouldn't bet against it happening soon.

Take a Thames Tour of Rotherhithe including the home of London's whaling and timber trades

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