Two top 20 albums, seven hit singles and an Ivor Novello nomination, and yet these Glaswegian popsters are hardly a visible presence in most households. But one of their songs refuses to go away. Smile, from 1997, features on multiple TV ads, funding the band's continuation but reinforcing their image (for those that remember them at all) as irredeemably cheeky chappies who provided a brief antidote to the depressive rock of Radiohead and the Verve. But, as Smile pumps out over the Leadmill's speakers, it seems that they were misunderstood all along. Far from being a jolly anthem, this song is about grinning and bearing it, "because that's all that you've got left".
The contract with EMI is now long gone, and the Supernaturals are rebuilding a career with international independent Koch. They haven't lost their enthusiasm - singer/bassist James McColl, a master of the wry couplet, has the crowd in stitches with a preposterous tale involving the keyboard player, a Belfast hotel room and falling asleep on a lady. But, behind the smiles, their songs - steeped in the pop classicism of northern soul, Squeeze and Madness - have real substance, and a heartfelt delivery that suggests the band deserves another chance.
I Don't Think So (" 'Don't give up the day job /Just be content with your lot' /I don't think so") - the Stones' Wild Horses on Govan happy pills - underlines the Supernaturals' determination. And songs from next spring's album, What We Did Last Summer, are unashamedly epic - summer songs with a creeping darkness that's reminiscent of the shadier side of the Beach Boys.
Let's hope that these fabulous tunes can rescue them. If not, they'll be forced to release the truly ghastly Life Is a Motorway, which sounds like a cross between a Bavarian drinking anthem and the Birdie Song ("All the little cars go beep beep"). The band seem thoroughly embarrassed to be playing it, but - such is human nature - it could be an enormous, irritating hit. At which point the Supernaturals will probably grin themselves to death.
At Dingwalls, London NW1, tonight, then touring. Box office: 020-7267 1577.
