"Spectaculars" rarely live up to their name. When you expect fireworks, you get rain. Action Spectacular have been much lauded, but waiting for them to begin their live London debut it is easy to wonder whether their choice of moniker was wise.
The Sheffield-based five-piece are known for their wacky stunts. Singer Jim Muir and co arrive wearing baggy suits, seaside comedy glasses and wide grins, so we're not disappointed. Well, those of us who find baggy suits and silly glasses amusing aren't. And Muir is certainly pleased with himself, standing with his arms in the air, an all-conquering hero.
"Good evening, Castle Donnington!" he proclaims, as a slab of funk plays behind him. Then it's straight into a spoken intro paying homage to Elvis and the 70s in an early morning voice. It's gruff and off-key. But then Action Spectacular pride themselves on their quirkiness. General Lee begins as a gentle nursery rhyme before jumping into deep indie-pop territory, jangly guitars against a jaunty country melody.
It's as if Britpop never died, with shades of the Charlatans and the vaudeville side of Blur backing up a lyrical style that Jarvis Cocker copyrighted in 1994. "We are the new Menswear, except better looking," says Muir.
Except Action Spectacular can play. Bassist Paul Flaherty stands sideways, rocking backwards and forwards, a danger to both himself and guitarist Martin Hirons, who's perilously close to him. Paul Galpin adds some Happy Mondays-style psychedelia with his keyboards - and it's in this stoner's paradise that the band work best.
The problem is that they're besotted with their record collections and too eager to please too many people. As the laid-back charm of Music in the Sun gives way to the embittered rant of Half Empty Bottle, Action Spectacular cease to be interesting, despite an on-off light show and some impassioned playing. Although the punky Roxy Music will go down well with the cheap cider on student night, it's already past its sell-by date. Muir clearly believes his band are the future of rock'n'roll. But they're too much like the Stone Roses' second album for that.
