Tomboy

It is this theatrical appeal which makes the gig less a night down the local venue, and more ‘A Night at the Opera’. There are constant flashes of the showiness of Queen, (that’s old school too – not the new hoary voiced freak show currently trampling on Mercury’s grave), and the band truly put the glam in glamorous.

The ultimate time for Heroes comes with ‘False Exit’, which chops up Bowie’s ‘Five Years’, shoves it in a blender and produces a delicious mixture which sticks in the throat with affected brilliance. The song pines “My heart keeps beating when I’m nervous”, but coming from Southampton’s musical peacocks, this seems increasingly questionable or else the band would all be in the coronary unit by now.

‘Last Wish’ is the highlight and a real stomper; literally in the case of vocalist Duncan Roberts who marches throughout, fitting into his drama queen shoes perfectly. It rocks with a whole lotta heart to the point whereby arteries are almost popping out of the tight tees onstage. ‘Modern Life’ offers a more melodic path with keyboards like an approaching ice-cream van (which is always going to be a good thing).

‘Ambidextrous’ out-camps them all however by coming from both sides, and feels like a session of star jumps on top of a Ferris Wheel. The invisible curtain falls after an acoustic performance with guitarist Ollie singing cabaret style like an old diva into the adoring eyes of his accompanying guitarist.

If they weren’t brothers you would call it romantic, but it merely sums up the whole flamboyance, frivolity and downright fun of the gig. Oh the drama!