They glued my head on upside down

To the much-fabled Rock City I travelled last night, barely a week after my last visit. Then, it was The Icarus Line, one of the most intense live acts I've ever seen (I didn't stick around for The Dillinger Escape Plan, their idea of fun - death metal with jazz time signatures, poo-throwing - couldn't dissuade me from rejoining a drinking crusade elsewhere). Last night, it was The Bellrays.

First up, though, The Beatings. Or I presume it was. I wasn't there. They made a fine racket at Leeds, but then there's that unmistakeable whiff of inauthenticity about them - Camden scenesters aping the sound of midwest trailer trash. They're strangers to originality, even down to their name, it seems. Still, this isn't the place to get into a debate about who's "4 real". Or maybe it is, but not right now. Anyway, I didn't even see them.

Next, New Zealand oiks The D4. I DID make it in time for this motley crew. All the expected AC/DC / garage skills in the end, but a rather tame start - guys, opening with 'Get Loose' is all very well, but it ain't gonna work if you look uptight yourselves. A few songs in, though, and they were greased up and ready to roll. And let's face it - when you've got a frontman called Jimmy Christmas with massive Gaz Coombers taking over his face, it'd be hard to disappoint.

Last, The Bellrays - distinguished from whippersnappers like The D4 and The Von Bondies by their age, their bitterness in interviews and THAT voice. They too suffered a stuttering start - too many damn mid-song breakdowns. But once they hit their stride, the temperature just kept on rising. On record I imagine they will always disappoint - Lisa Kekaula's amazing voice on top of their gruff garage bluster sounds at times like a cherry on a dog turd - but live it makes so much more sense: Kekaula, arm continually raised; bassist Bob Vennum and rubber-lipped guitarist Tony Fate frugging away with youthful enthusiasm. The initially passive crowd was stoked into action by a storming final few songs, including ace single 'They Glued Your Head On Upside Down', and whipped up to a frenzy by an encore which featured 'Blues For Godzilla' and 'Fire On The Moon'. The Bellrays had thawed all that reserve and inhibition, and it was great to watch.

So there you have it: old people can rock. Hurrah! There's hope for us all.