Denizens of Hollywood - where what you see is what you get - Orson cut to the chase with their radio friendly, summertime, pop-rock.

Lead singer Jason Pebworth's voice shines through clear and confident atop razor sharp production: Choruses are catchy and the whole ensemble is like a sunny, zany drive through Muscle Beach, California.

There is nothing deep about Orson, but they are fun and there is a brooding and cocky quality to their lyrics ("you're a psycho bitch from hell") which proves they are more than just a boy band.

Just to quash that particular rumour completely, bassist Johnny Lonely explains: "We started out a bunch of rock 'n' roll guys. We are in essence an indie band - at least, we've done it more indie than half the groups in the NME. I'm not talking about the indie sound or saying we're an indie band now, but we'd been slogging it out a long time in our home town before we got picked up (by Mercury Records).

"We made our own record, we paid for it with our own money and put it out in California by ourselves."

What's more, Orson, mostly in their early thirties, are too old to be a boy band. They do, however, appeal to the Bliss-reading masses.

"We started our tour last night in Liverpool," says Johnny. "It was fantastic. It was completely sold out with about 1,100 screaming kids going absolutely bananas. Usually at our shows, the people at the front are 99 per cent 15-20 year-old girls.

"When the house lights come up a bit and you can see the entire crowd there are just as many boys as girls - but the boys aren't smashed up to the front screaming. It's like A Hard Day's Night."

Orson (named in honour of Orson Welles) was born when George (guitar) and Jason (vocals) plucked Chris (drums) and Johnny (bass) from the ashes of another burnt-out band in Hollywood.

Guitarists Kevin and Chad were later added to the mix in 2003.

All five were still working in their day jobs, until the band broke soon after touring as support to Duran Duran.

The band's debut single No Tomorrow zipped quickly to the top of the charts in February after becoming the most downloaded Single Of The Week since iTunes began. Current single Bright Idea is heading the same way. Now residing in Hammersmith, they have no immediate plans to return to the US. "The only thing we miss is Mexican food - and the ocean," says Johnny.

The prospect then of Brighton beach on the horizon is "awesome."

"We had one of our best gigs in Brighton," says Johnny. "The crowd went extra wild. That gets us more fired up when everyone's screaming and chanting.

"That's what we're doing this for. We love it when everyone is having a good time. We're positive cats."

Starts 7pm. Tickets cost £10 SOLD OUT. Call 01273 673311.