“We sang ‘Hello Brighton my old friend’ in the van over here to the tune of Simon And Garfunkel.”

It was clear Holly Ross, one half of The Lovely Eggs, had been looking forward to playing the city – and the devoted crowd crushed into the basement of Sticky Mike’s returned the love throughout their hour-long set.

The Lovely Eggs are the sort of band cults are built around – and not the beard-stroking “I preferred their early singles” type.

Their songs are aimed at outsiders with a sense of humour – with their existing favourites concerning food allergies, OCD and strangers with sausage roll thumbs augmented by selections from their imminent fourth album about sensible people, insurance and the decline of house parties in their native Lancaster.

All the songs were powered by Ross’s ear for a guitar riff and song structures expanding the Pixies quiet-loud-quiet template into the stratosphere – from sugary sweetness to almost primal screaming.

Both Ross and drummer husband David Blackwell were front and centre throughout, meaning audience interaction played a major role – from passing on birthday wishes all the way from Sheffield to happily sharing their bickering with each other.

The band’s stance against fake encores meant the show seemed over almost too soon.