By Matthias Scherer

The Social, West End, Monday 14th December 2009

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What a lovely setting – it’s just before the Christmas break, it’s nice and warm inside, there’s live music, and it’s all organised by the dudes at small-but-great indie outlet Alcopop! Records. The label is releasing an EP by Stagecoach, the Surrey quintet who are part of tonight’s bill. They trade in a kind of country-tinged power pop that, on paper, should have indie fans licking their fingers – there’s echoes of Wilco’s and Ben Kweller’s sly humour, and the fine instrumental layering of Okkervil River also shines through. Live, however, Stagecoach seem to take a rather shambolic approach to things. Singer Luka’s yelpy vocals are more reminiscent of American pop-punk acts like Blink 182 or – gulp – Wheatus.

The mandolin is very high in the mix, and thus provides more of a distraction from rather than an addition to the overall sound. This is obviously not the band’s fault, who throw themselves about the coin-sized stage with joyous abandon – mandolist Tom even clambers up onto a table at one point, balancing precariously while plucking his instrument. Fortunately for the band, “We Got Tazers!” remains the hit it is on record, and promising new song helps to ensure that Stagecoach walk away with their reputation further enhanced.