There seems to be a bit of an 80s influence coming through in bands at the moment. This is something I’m happy to see, as this was the era when I began my love affair with music and going to see bands. I’m not sure whether the current sound I hear in many bands is simply due to their parents' record collections or a rediscovery of the brilliant bands from that time. Either way, tonight felt like I’d somehow found a time machine.

Tulpa is a Leeds band that shares a label with headliners The Cords, a band I had not been aware of previously. However, I’ll be taking notice from now on, as they were absolutely fantastic, a really tight unit driven by a fabulous drummer who laid down a furious canvas for the band to strut their stuff on. They are a band that is very clear on what they are doing, with each component there for a reason and coming together in a harmonic, gutsy, noisy pop with echoes of the Wedding Present and Pavement discernible. Transfixed Gaze was the standout track, which has not been off my headphones since.

I was a bit nervous for The Cords having to follow such a tight set, but nay bother – the Scottish sisters rocked out with serious aplomb. Just a drum kit and an electric guitar – you wonder why more bands don’t simplify things. The Cords produced a set of DIY, spikey, sparky, punky, jangly, fabulousness. Kicking things off with Fabulist I had to pinch myself to remember that the quartet was not a long-lost band from the Postcard Records a stable of perfect Scottish indie pop that shone brightly for a few short years in the 80s. Vera felt it could have come from a Vaselines recording. Although the sisters wear their influences clearly, even finishing the set with a Dolly Mixture cover, they take them and play with them, producing perfect indie pop tracks with nothing coming in over 3 minutes. Short, sharp and utterly great fun.


Ian Street's recent gig: The Cords with support from Tulpa was on 5 March at The Lending Room - Leeds