Superglu, Ordinary Noise, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Colchester Arts Centre.

AS any fan of such US alt rock outfits as the Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins will tell you, all the best bands have female bass players in them and we were treated to two at this excellent local gig.

First up was the awesome Gaffa Tape Sandy, who like headliners Superglu, have been generating quite a bit of radio play from BBC Introducing.

Rather fortunately for the three-piece garage band from Bury St Edmunds, this gig coincided with the release of their new Spring Killing EP, which, judging by the set of songs that came pounding out from the stage, is probably worth a buy.

I really loved this band, full of energy and punchy tunes that grab you by the scruff of the neck and demand serious head nodding.

Made-up of lead guitarist Kim Jarvis, bass player Catherine Lindley-Neilson, and the hypnotic Robin Francis on drums, keep an eye out for this group, they're going places.

Next-up was the long overdue return of Colchester's Ordinary Noise, once a popular draw on the local gig circuit, but whose members have since been involved with university and other musical projects.

Jollily weaving us through a back catalogue of favourites including Backstabber and Hungry Tongues, as well as a new tune about Grace Jones, it was a delightful reminder just how good they are and how frontman Lou Terry's stint at university cannot end soon enough.

Finally the band of the moment, fresh from their triumphant new release Simmer Down, complete with Radio One airplay, it was Superglu's turn to light up the stage.

And boy they didn't disappoint with high jinx antics such as banana throwing, which incidentally hit this reviewer on the head, as well as stage diving and plenty of on-stage banter.

The songs are pretty good too!

Diving Bell and Rounder, plus a slight change in musical direction with Simmer, show just what great songwriters they are. On the strength of this gig alone, surely world domination is only a matter of time for Manningtree's finest.

NEIL D'ARCY-JONES