It’s almost ten years to the month that I first saw Therapy? live. In the heady post-grunge heights of 'Troublegum', there wasn’t really anything comparable to the Irish trio. Straddling commercial success with a genuine love of rock cliché, nothing kept me up ‘til the early hours, sitting with my finger on the pause/record button during such TV institutions as Raw Power, Hotel Babylon, Passengers and The Beat. Even waiting for thirty seconds of the ‘Teethgrinder’ video on the Chart Show ‘Rock Chart’ was a Saturday morning well spent.

But there was so much more to Therapy? than goatee beards, arched eyebrows and an annoying question mark. Soundtracking the best part of my puberty, there was fiery matter in the storming industrial clang of mini 1991’s 'Babyteeth' and ‘92's 'Pleasure Death' that appreciated the true force of bands such as Jesus Lizard, Black Flag and Husker Du. Meanwhile, Andy Cairn's ability to create two minute pop anthems within the tribal walls of Fyfe Ewing’s incredibly precise percussion, made them an anomaly amongst the Britrock explosion. But it seemed several factors changed Therapy? from indie favourites into unfashionable outsiders. Their sudden need to write ‘happy songs’ after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, alongside the departure of Fyfe Ewing and subsequently that of cellist Martin McCarrick, took away some of their unique sound. Moreover, adult life has brought me into the realm of new obsessions – from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion to Guided By Voices – and hence the T-shirts, posters and videos of the Irish band were duly consigned to the cupboard.

So admittedly, tonight was going to be a nostalgia trip. Nothing more than a quick peek to see how Andy is looking these days and to see if bassist Michael McKeegan had grown into long trousers. Plus, it’s not really cool to admit to liking them anymore, not when there’s skinny good-lookers such as Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand or Nine Black Alps popping up everywhere.

However, tonight’s performance was astonishing. Storming from one greatest hit to another, the addition of phenomenal new sticksman Neil Cooper, has meant that Therapy? circa 2004 have come back to the original power trio blueprint. In fact, it is Cooper who is pivotal to bringing back their immense sound, providing new tracks ‘Die Like A Motherfucker’, ‘Perish The Thought’ and ‘Polar Bear’ with an immense backbeat to Cairns’ thrilling speed-melodies.

But it’s the chiming opening to ‘Stories’ that really signals the endorphin rush. McKeegan’s arm may be strapped up in the most un-rock like tubigrip, and his task of performing backing vocals still makes him squirm, but he pummels into classics such as ‘Die Laughing’ and ‘Turn’ with sheer abandon. Their energy and confidence combined could wipe the floor with some of the NME hyped acts of today. The Killers' recent languid 45 minute set is proof enough that you can’t buy stage presence with some natty suits. Cairns stalks the stage, dedicating ‘Isolation’ to ‘all the great Manchester bands’ before breaking it down into ‘She’s Lost Control’ in true homage.

Plenty has changed over the past decade, and it’s clear that for everyone in the audience, Therapy? had soundtracked a significant enough proportion of their lives for them to be welcomed back into their hearts. The ultimate surprise is that they clearly still have the ability to soundtrack the next huge chunk of people’s adult lives.