Maximo Park at The Astoria

Maximo Park headlined the NME Poll Winners tour this evening at the Astoria. "We are Maxeemo Park" was the rallying cry and the lads did themselves proud. They played half a dozen or so songs from the new album (I approved of the way Paul kept referring to it as the new 'record') as well as favourites and classics.

The lads couldn't keep still for a second, bouncing around the stage, jumping from amps, pogoing, dashing from side to side - so much energy. They seem to be going for a 'corporate' image with all of them dressed in black and looking good but Paul wore a bowler hat throughout which meant his face was obscured most of the time. They played for about 1.10 hours which isn't very long, but, what with the preceeding acts on the tour needing their time, the Maximo's left the stage at 11.00pm so that's not too bad really.

They played most of my favourites so I was happy - 'The Coast Is Always Changing', 'Apply Some Pressure', 'Graffiti', a wild version of 'Limassol' as the first encore song and finished with the marvellous 'Going Missing'. A distinct highlight was the fast and furious 'Our Velocity', the new single due out next month - that song works so well on stage it's an instant favourite.

I see the lads again in three months time and by then I'll be familiar with the new songs so watch this space for more Maximo!