Whoaah! This certainly is a different film reel for Ratcat. Less than a year ago, they’d been lucky to have mustered up more than 35 people to their gig here, and even then, Buzzcock nostalgics at most. But these days, they’re the hottest band in Teenland, and what we got here were Pop Kids who were here to sample more of the guitar torrents of the hit singles.

Ratcat’s set got off to a shaky start when the sound mix almost mixed Simon Day’s axe down; a sharp rebuke to the roadie responsible, and we were suddenly hit with a guitar sound that was overly loud. It didn’t rectify itself; the bass remained a blur throughout, broken up only by Day’s splashes of wah wah and pop hooks and some sturdy dance-trance drumming throughout. Ratcat thrive on the moment, but are ultimately happy to be nothing more than to be a souped-up good time guitar-pop band.

The young crowd was more concerned with the thrill of the event than anything else. They slam-danced, they sang, they proudly wore their newly-acquired T-shirts, they clearly overlooked that with Ratcat, the sound itself is more important than the songs, rising above the tunes’ structural similarity , The Tingles and Blind Love material works because of its snappy simplicity, but already it’s obvious that the trio format is limiting to what Ratcat would like to be. Speculation by band members that they might add a fourth member would be a welcome move.

But Ratcat’s set did have a number of highs - the guitar attack of “Yes I Wanna Go”, “Don’t Go Now” and “Baby Baby”, The cover of Tommy James’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” (popularised recently by Tiffany) and ‘50s/’60s pastiches like “Anything That You Want Me To” and “True Lust” were all about joyful pop experiences. As safe as Ratcat are, and as stereotyped as the audience behaviour is becoming, you can’t deny either the fervor of the event or the band’s ability to realise the crowd’s expectations. Skilled pop kids. Sweaty enthusiasm. As long as you’re prepared to keep the question hidden under the covers, this is good roustabout stuff.

Openers El Dorados are a ‘90s rockabilly/thrash type unit, grinning under groovy quiffs, with a stomping drummer who steadfastly steamrolled behind the beat. What’s fresh about the El Dorados is the way they deliberately move from the predictable : yes, they do kick up old western standbys like “Silverado” and “Duke Boys” but they take that rockabilly style and apply it to ‘80s techno-pop hits like Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” and Violent Femmes’ “Just One F**ck” [*cough* actually its called “Add It Up” - Epod], grasping whatever r’billy roots they have, and exposing them in all their glory. Tonight, El Dorado clearly enjoyed themselves, cutting a heart warming set in the process that gave Ratcat a good run for their money.