Following recent upheavals at it's previous home The Water Rats, which saw long standing promoters Plum Music ousted from the venue, seemingly without warning, the Wreck club night, hosted by members of Twentysixfeet and Akira, has packed its bags and moved into a new home at The Bull & Gate. Tonight is their first gig in this new residence, and my first visit to Wreck.

We arrive just in time to hear the final skronks of brass from London instrumentalists Chik Budo, and make our way to the live room (opting to use the venue's main entrance, rather than the alternative shortcut through the pub toilets).

Soon after, Akira make their way onto the stage, this being their turn to perform, with co-organisers Twentysixfeet having made an appearance in last month's show. This will be the third time that I've seen them live, and the first since they saved me from a potential drenching at Truckfest a month ago (see the Truck review for the full story).

They seem to have spent the intervening time well, sounding tighter and more powerful than ever before. Vocals are split between Joel's urgent rasp and Gbenga's softer lilt, providing a vital contrast and variety amongst the discordant swirls and musical undulations that they surround themselves with. I've been writing for some time that Akira have the potential within them to create something original and affecting, but they're songs have often been sketchy or littered with more ideas than they can hold. Tonight they are closer than ever before to reaching that goal. The songs seem more controlled, teetering on the edge without ever going that one step too far, and feel more fully formed, gutsier, but at the same time more tender.

Akira are developing into the band that I always hoped they might become, and it's an enticing prospect.

Tonight's headliners The Rock of Travolta are one of those bands that seem to have been around for ever, and that I've always intended to check out, without ever quite getting around to it, until tonight at least. Their instrumental rock outs tend to follow the well-worn quiet/loud/quiet/very loud/quiet/IMMENSELY FUCKING LOUD!!!! template, and do it pretty well, but for some reason I'm not quite feeling their sound tonight. Things improve with the introduction of a cello that briefly reins in their heavy riffing instincts, but by the time the guitarists have pulled their hundredth rock pose, my interest has gone.

A pretty successful start to their new home, keep your eyes on www.myspace.com/wreckfest for details of the next instalment.

www.therockoftravolta.com / www.akiraband.com

Review & Photography by Paul Madden