THERE was a refreshing lack of pretension for this gig at the Thunderbolt. Davey Woodward, from the Experimental Pop Band, opened the evening on acoustic guitar with a selection of quirky, infectious songs. Jim Johnston's band then played a high energy wall of sound for about a minute, before launching into Misunderstood, a slick and powerful four chord riff based tune.

The band then powered into Tin Gods, based around a Bo Diddley beat, but never in thrall to it. One of the strengths of this band is its effective use of dynamics, now loud, now peaceful, always slick with their endings – the lack of which is a failing in many lesser bands. Effective stagecraft saw them launch into Halloween, their new single. Replacing vocalist Emily Parker was surprise guest and local jazz saxophone hero Craig Crofton, playing a blistering solo.

It was good to hear a commanding jazz soloist playing against a powerhouse rock accompaniment, reminiscent of Hot Rats era Zappa.

This was the band's first gig of a mini-tour to promote their single and their forthcoming album, Voyage of Oblivion, which will be released in February.

There is a distinct Gothic flavour to some of the band's songs, although they mercifully spare us the more extreme excesses of Goth bands' stage apparel. Your Burial went down well with the audience, and then Craig Crofton rejoined the band for Perfect – Closing my Eyes would be Perfect. They closed with Hitcher, another unsettling outing.

The audience, happy in the convivial atmosphere of this friendly pub, were with the band from the start, and gave them an encouraging start to their promotional tour.