The Twilight Singers @ Oran Mor, 12 Dec

The Twilight Singers are a post-grunge super group - led by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs and featuring a guest appearance from Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan - and their music is nostalgic without being out-dated. As their set tonight wears on, Dulli recalls the frantic rage of post-punk and the classic Americana of the late 1960s while avoiding cynicism or self-parody.

Cover versions litter the set, from Leadbelly's mournful tales of infidelity through to the Band's 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' but it is the two guitar assault that forces attention. Bar-room keyboards tinkle in the softer moments, the band are by turns reflective and aggressive: Lanegan's brief slot gives his distinctive voice free reign. This is a remarkably tight and intense show.

While much of the New Country that passes for American rock today is merely self-conscious and trite, The Twilight Singers are atmospheric and passionate, acknowledging the past and recasting it with vitality. [Gareth K Vile]