With Led Zeppelin's Rock n' Roll blasting out, the crowd bobbed about in a state of nervous energy as we waited in the pitch black for the lads to take their places on the stage.

The lights went up to reveal the bearded rockers ready for action and we braced ourselves for some foot-stomping, top-cranking heavy rock action as they ripped into their first song, Now Lie Down.

Robbie

Guitarist Robbie bears a striking resemblance to Jimmy Page when he was going through his fishing hat/full beard faze and drummer, Nick looks and plays like Bonzo in his prime.

Super strutting, tight trousered frontman Paul is a hybrid of Joe Cocker, Jagger and Rod Stewart with a great voice and an extremely bendy body - which he showed off with some eye watering moves and and some surprisingly nifty footwork.

As they launched into heavier bad-ass tune This Time Later, super hairy bass player Dave is living truth that rules can be broken - chucking the usual bass moves out the window, playing his like a guitar, complete with windmilling arm.

After only hearing debut single Get On Your Life I was surprised at the quality and variety of songs The Velvets had to offer - it's addictive stuff too with killer melodies and infectious hooks that rattle round your head for days.

Nick

New single 3345 was certainly a crowd pleaser with it's punchy Clash edged guitars, bellowing vocals from Paul and a great foot stamping, singalong chorus.

Highlights for me were Glamstar which has some stunning riffery, and Lady Lime which sees the lads reign in for a second and show their softer side with some heartfelt lyrics and a trippy, psychedelic ending.

They're not trying to reinvent the rock n' roll wheel and I can see them getting compared to the likes of Jet, but for me they put in a walloping performance and have a touch more sophistication.

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