The Way + The Exits + Jarvis Fields - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. 04/10/05

Tonight was supposed to be the album launch for Pompey chart botherers Ricky, but a combination of a delayed release date and the lack of a bass player sees them pull out; however the remaining support bands have flogged enough tickets to ensure a good crowd turn up anyway. Southampton band Jarvis Fields take to the stage first and do a nice turn in Who like rock, the tunes have a decent swagger about them though the band look strangely static on stage and could do with having a bit more energy about them as the songs are fizzing away and need some visual stimulation. It has to be said that they have an impressive drummer who bashes away like Keith Moon having a turn, complete with big drum solo that actually sounds good. A couple of songs sink into that Oasis grey area but generally the Fields sound like a promising band.

Having seen The Exits a few days before this at Messclean and thinking they were good despite the poor sound down there, I wasn't prepared for just how good they were going to sound tonight. With a decent PA behind them, these boys sound massive and they look the part tonight with front man Ray complete with white jacket and confidence oozing out of every pore. They own the stage tonight and those lovely 80s squelchy synths vibrate up into the stomach and guitars cut through in rough and ready fashion and let's not forget the tunes, because I swear that each and every tune they play tonight is first class; there are not many bands that stick in your brain after one listen but The Exits have that ability to do just that and it has to be said that they are the band of the night by a long way and as it turns out this classy performance has gained them their first headlining Wedge gig come January and well deserved too. On seeing The Exits for the first time a while back I said they would be at home supporting the current crop of bands like Bloc Party and now I'm thinking they actually sound better and would blow them off the stage no trouble such is the quality of the tunes and performance. A real victory for The Exits tonight, if there is any justice in this world someone will pick them up soon and let a few more people hear their vibrant, modern sound.

Alas, after the rush that is The Exits we have to have The Way. They are the kind of band who model themselves on all their influences such as Oasis, The Beatles etc and keep to the same template so you end up feeling that you've just watched a whole load of covers bands. It's quite obvious they have a dedicated beered up following who are happy to throw each other about down the front and chuck beer over everyone but to these ears it's dull and I'd rather go home and listen to the original bands.