Well, I did attempt to be punctual and got to the Corner at 9:30pm, just in time to watch the Anyones hauling their gear off the small stage, not a great start to the night - sorry. 

Smudge were next which was a surprise, I hadn't realised Mr Blonde were doing that well. They got the big stage and played quite a long set. Impractical Joke was a bit of a standout, as were the songs that Alison Galloway sang on, though unfortunately her microphone wasn't doing the best it could, but what did come through clearly, sounded great. Smudge had very loud and choppy guitar sounds and weren't as listener friendly as I remembered, but nevertheless they rocked through a cool set. 

Mr Blonde hit the small stage and basically blew the memory of Smudge completely away. They were super tight and seem to have realised that they've stumbled on the secret to fantastic pop songs because most of them were so captivating I lost track of my pool game. They had a very catchy sound, with the guitars balancing nicely with the vocals (which are a high point too). Mr Blonde keep getting better and even seem to have attracted their own set of groupies who bopped away at the front looking like they had escaped from the Depot but thought they were still there. 

Snout wound up the night launching their CD on the main stage, looking very happy at the very large turn out. They were the best I'd seen them for a while. All of them very energetic, with the bass player/vocalist jumping around so much in places that his bass was up around his neck. The guitarist was also in form, and perfected a jump of his own (just the one). As far as the music went, Snout were spot on, only faltering in a few places when they (the two up the front, not the drummer) occasionally jumped too high. The track with the same name as the CD they were launching, Cromagnon Man, went down very well. Snout seem to have put some space into their songs, now and then just having vocals and drums, or bass, with the guitar coming in later. They are, if anything, poppier than ever before and, with the bass player in his best suit for he occasion, looked suavely like the latest britpop offering. Snout then came out for an eagerly anticipated encore and were gladly received. Their CD, Cromagnon Man, is now launched.