The Sleepy Jackson @ King Tut's, 14 Jul

The Sleepy Jackson hit the live trail in support of their unusually titled forthcoming second album Personality, One Was A Spider One Was A Bird. Reduced to two long-term members, lead-singer/guitarist Luke Steele and drummer Malcolm Jackson, following several line-up changes since 2003 debut 'Lovers', the pair are backed on stage by a combination of guitar, bass and most interestingly, a bongo-playing keyboardist / xylophonist. While Personality… drips in orchestral arrangements and rich backing vocals, creating a Brian Wilson meets Phil Spector musical vision, the band proves to be a rockier prospect live. Steele is the archetypal front-man, punctuating songs with Hendrix-style histrionics; at one point grabbing a camera stage-side, he rapidly snaps the crowd, throwing the resulting Polaroids into their midst. Though dipping into their country-tinged back catalogue, tonight's primarily a showcase for new material; the Prince-influenced Raspberry Beret-sound of I Understand What You Want But I Just Don't Agree, an obvious highlight. [Colin Chapman]