The Go! Team

I turned up at the Coal Exchange around 7:45 and the doors opened at 8... :-| [Late!! By half an hour >:(]
Smoosh casually walked on stage at half past 8 and started the set with 'Massive Cure'.
I have really wanted to see Smoosh since I first heard them, and Massive Cure being the first song I heard from them, was awesome as a first song.
The seemed quite shy, but still very confident and unphased by the crowd. Chloe (on drums, turned 12 on Sunday) belted out the rythyms extremely well, I knew from her performance that she wasn't just a rythym drummer. She is an awesome drummer at 12, and if she carries on like that she WILL be the best girl drummer ever!
The rest of the set included 'Rad' (She Like Electric) 'Show Me What You Wanted' and other tracks from the new album. It was quite dissapointing to have few tracks played from She Like Electric, but the new material was AWESOME. I cannot WAIT for the new album.
They ended the set (rather sadly, as it seemed so short) with 'La Pump' which made everyone sit up and notice. Asya's voice really belted out the lyrics and I joined in screaming along with her. Smoosh are without a doubt, awesomely far above their age musically.
Remarkably, the girls helped carry off the kit while I was trying to wish Chloe a Happy Birthday (which failed) and The Grates set up, with an identical drumkit (save 'The Grates' on the bass drum)
The started up and I expected the not so good in relation to DiS' earlier review. Boy, was that wrong! The Grates held their own, despite an obvious tipsiness from the lead singer. She belted out lyrics in a happy Karen-O way, and definately did alot of jumping around.
While watching them I saw Asya (lead singer and keyboards for Smoosh) watching from the side. After much egging on from my friend I started talking to her (I'm afraid I completely and utterly embarrassed myself, miming 'big fan' in a charades way because of the racket of The Grates) I managed to shnarfle a bit of info, I asked when the new album was out and she replied October :D (I think that justified that I WAS a sane fan and liked them before the gig). October is a long way off, but at least I found out!
The Grates continued in their slightly drunken manner (this didn't hamper their performance by the way) and ended their set to much applause, definately a band to watch (and they're from Australia too!)
Unfortunately (because of reasons of my own) I missed The Go! Team...

All in all, a very good performance by Smoosh and The Grates (despite drunkeness) and I'm sure everyone enjoyed it.