Strange, but wholly true, it's possible to go to a gig in a coffee shop in sleepy Stratford. Clearly a mad idea on the part of the Costa organisation but hey, it turns out to be my best night out for ages. Sure it's low key and the band are pretty well acoustic, but those are only a couple of reasons why it's so good. It's Birmingham's who make the night. Although usually to be found playing with electric guitars - I'd seen them in Worcester a couple of weeks before-they are just as good in this guise, played like this their unique songs have more space and more light (far out man! Ed), the darkness and menace of some of them is temporarily banished. By the time they play at 9pm the place is pretty full and people have obviously travelled a distance to see them.

Congas, electric bass and acoustic guitars make a great sound when played like this. The band are at ease, chatting amongst themselves and cracking jokes at their own expense, the whole place is full of smiles with under the beach, sweet Jane, and wild man wooing the punters. The grooves are seductive the playing is excellent. The songs are little short of wonderful.

Style, wit and cool? They have it in abundance!