I enter to a busy Pyramids... I thought a sell out although maybe not as the Reel Big Fish gig the week after played testament to... We headed for the side and at the early hour of about 7:30 the first band of what promised to be a four band marathon suddenly appeared on stage.

Although the Ting Tings opened and closed the set with their singles, they were the weakest tracks of the set. Big booming drums (even if they appeared to be being delivered by George Micheal) signalled a statement of intent that this is a very drum-centric band. Heavy simple beats combined with bleep tinged guitars and just enough quirk in the lead singers voice to prick the ears. Pity it was not so much a well composed set, rather a a collection of songs, thrown together to give quick audience pleasers. Brownie points for use of the screens for something other than to throw ads at the crowd to buy next weeks NME!

Up next, Does It Offend You, Yeah? bound on stage to what (I hoped was just) suitably epic intro music, and then proceed though a packed 30 mins of suitably old school disco all amp-ed up with a good throng of electronic ear warping devices. Whilst the musos stand at the bar in disgust at how this electro mess deserves a place in their brain, the true spirit of what DIOY are truely trying to do is being felt by the jumping masses in the crowd. It’s all good fun, even if it’s not exactly Mercury Music Prize worthy stuff, it certainly gets you in the mood for a party.

Unsurprisingly pissed Joe Lean and his Jing Jang Jong take to the stage to a deliciously delivered piece of surf rock that’s almost Tarantino-esque in style. Within two songs he’s banging on a drum to keep himself amused whilst delivering cutting, but, ultimately un-fulfilling vocals alongside a whole musical experience that is, as seems the theme for tonight, a bit underwhelming. I struggle to find what’s so new and therefore worthy of this bands sudden rise to fame. It’s so a hunger very much being fed by the certain type of speedy new musical media so many indie kids have been tempted to the darkside by, with their quirky names and smart waster style another band sure to be big in 2008 but hopefully it’s all flash in the pan as these things with a certain lack of substance tend to be.

After this emotional rollercoaster I was ready for my dead cert of the night - The Cribs. Although I’d never seen them before, they’re the sort of band you get banged on to about all the time, and I had respect for them because you can tell they’ve "done the graft" to get to where they are. And It’s all very good. They delivered solid, working class tunes, without appearing too sleazy, drunken, or, wait- apparently that’s what they’re supposed to be like? The most "crazy" thing Jarmin did was wear a bra thrown on stage outside his t-shirt. Wow. They are a solid act, and definately on a par with the rest of the set tonight but, ultimately, it lacked that magic something you need from a band which such a reputation to live up to.

A little pissed, and a little pissed off I headed to LJRs to complete the night in ample drunken style!

The Ting Tings, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong and The Cribs played The Pyramids, Portsmouth for the NME Awards tour on Thursday 21st February 2008. And it didn’t really offend me too much.