★★★★

THIS is the last day of the tour and I’m looking forward to getting home and watching some daytime television,” declared The Wave Pictures frontman David Tattersall barely two songs into his band’s Komedia set.

Far from betraying disinterest or a lack of dedication, it perfectly encapsulated the prolific three-piece’s self-deprecating nature; if anything, they are an antiband.

Latest album Bamboo Diner in the Rain is bold and eclectic but not self-consciously so. Appearing on stage like web developers at a search engine optimisation conference, the trio delivered a tight and enthralling performance of new songs from their sprawling back catalogue.

If Tattersall’s witty and idiosyncratic lyrics stand out on record, it was his outstanding guitar playing that shone through in the flesh. Equally impressive was Franic Rozycki’s bluesy, tremolo bass playing, which at times served almost as a second lead guitar part.

Numbers from the new album were performed with an incongruous swagger. This was immaculate blues and garage rock underpinning aloof stories of provincial England, played to an audience of hipsters and dads who looked like they were watching Chris Rea. It made for a tremendously fun night.

Tom Furnival-Adams