So, like, they say Camden’s not what it used to be. Is it still the bastion of homegrown talent it was in ye olde Britpop days? Well nah, there’re no Menswears getting signed after four gigs, and Suede and Blur have long since moved to newer, more inticing social pastures. Yet in place of the stifling national pride of yore is a new batch of kids with a little more humility.

O’course there’s none of that namby-pamby community spirit bollocks here tonight. Small Victories are here to rock and they sound right at home in a mid-sized venue like Electric Ballroom. They hail from Cardiff, but deal in an unlikely brand of post-baggy noise – sort of like James if they were about to be swallowed whole by their own effects pedals. It’s all dizzyingly ambitious, if occasionally a tad overwhelming, but it’s possible to pick out the odd tune underneath the whirr of noise.

The Webb Brothers have finally found their way back over from California and bring a little part of their sun-drenched state with them. Most of their set is made up of material from their new self-titled record and the three siblings share lead vocal duties equally throughout. Think The Osmonds, minus the forced smiles and plus a truckload of blissful west coast harmonising. Like, rad.

So, where OK Go are somewhat lacking in the great songs department, they do manage to regain some ground by giving good show. Songs like ‘You’re So Damn Hot’ and ‘Return’ are zipped through with shiny professionalism and while the band’s sole hit ‘Get Over It’ never quite catches fire, it’s still a welcome highlight. Things heat up for awhile towards the middle of the set and sparks fly when a young couple are invited on stage to slowdance with the band, but there just ain’t enough strong material to carry them through the whole hour. Alas, there’s no time for an encore. Instead we get an expertly choreographed Grease-aping dance routine and the band mime along to a backing tape. After all, they only ever wanted to be a boyband.