The Needles @ Camden Barfly

Having travelled all the way from Glasgow on public transport, The Needles were well up for their gig at the Camden Barfly on Monday. I chatted with Paul Needles and Richie Wolf from the band in the pub before their performance. Describing their music as Rock n Roll with tunes, the sound is a bit more pop than most rock, but doesn't suffer for it. We don't think shouting over some Stooges riffs is enough, Paul remarked, that's already been done to perfection.

It's unusual to see a bassist do much other than stand at the back looking serious, but as the youngest member of the band, it's easy to see why Paul is pushed out to the front alongside the main vocalist. In the middle of a university degree at Glasgow ('film studies - it's not as interesting as you think'), Paul actually had to get a coach back after the gig to arrive at his uni for 7am the next day for a lecture. On stage, he can be wild, but clumsy, their performances having the reputation for being blood-splattered after Paul impaled himself on an effects pedal.

The performance was good, with some good songs backed up by a lot of energy and a raw rock sound.

The band have been signed to various labels with nothing happening (one label getting all their tapes confiscated after going bankrupt), but their single Back Where I Belong is finally out on Dangerous Records from 22nd March.