大象传媒

Maximo Park (photo: Ged Camera)

Maximo Park at Dry Bar - 6/10

It's all amicably delivered; a genial banter is generated with the audience at the front, with references to a previous life as a geography teacher being irreverently thrown at the band.

Maximo Park (photo: Ged Camera)

Front man Paul Smith is an all action figure, pogoing within the limited confirms of the stage, throwing the shapes and delivering the lyrics, showing that the months of gigging since they appeared at the In The City event here in 2003 have been put to good use by the band.

Smith's actions contrast nicely with the rock solid stance of bass player Archis Tiku, a stance that a colleague believes resembles "playing like he's Shandy Bass in a pub band". I'm sure that means something in Geordie speak. But nobody really dances or moves that much; maybe its because it's so packed that everyone is craning their necks to catch a view of the band on the small stage.

Acoustics of the venue mean that if you can't get to the front, then a muffled vaguely pleasing noise permeates the venue and perhaps this split view summarises the atmosphere. If you like the band and are prepared to get down to the front and pay attention, then you will probably have enjoyed the unchallenging guitars and keyboards-based pop. Alternatively, it may waft over the heads of those at the back, a bit of background music that will smooth the conversation flow without stopping it. Either way, Maximo Park at least deserve the interest in them.