The latest new-wave punk rockers to come out of New York City are the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and they believe in having a good time.

Singer Karen O, a giggly mock-up of Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry, claims they only started a rock band because they were all into "things that are hot and sexy".

The Brooklyn trio wasted no time, taking only one rehearsal to get a complete set of songs for their first gig, opening for The White Stripes.

A year and a half later, they have been played by Radio One's John Peel and are opening for punk/blues stalwarts The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and fellow New York upstarts The Strokes.

They've also managed to set up their own label, Shifty, and put out a self-titled debut EP which was listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the Ten Bands You Need To Have Now.

The tunes themselves are brash and catchy but with an added edge of humour and grit closely aligned to the likes of Velvet Underground and The Cramps - bands they readily admit stealing ideas from.

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have no bass player but guitarist Nick Zinner, a Sid Vicious lookalike, more than makes up for it. He playfully bats between murky blues riffs and sparkly Sixties pop reminiscent of early Kinks and the Shangri-Las.

Karen O shouts, yelps and growls her way through the set and drummer Brian Chase delivers sparse yet solid beats with a deadpan demeanour.

It makes for a genuinely pleasing collision of divergent styles and references, full of charisma and wit.

Seeing Karen O carouse and giggle her way through the live act, showing how much fun life can be when you wear ripped tights and red lipstick, is what I would call a great kick-start to a debauched summer on the beach.

Call 01273 603974. Entry is £3.50/£3.

Words by Robin Pridy, features@theargus.co.uk