The stage resembles a phantasmagorical futuristic wasteland: there are stray synths, a black drum-kit, decapitated dolls, a mannequin torso. The band appear in space-age shades edged in flashing blue. Squealing manic synths usher in the highly-anticipated pop punk cacophony we love so much. Welcome to the Fight Like Apes album launch.
The familiar tones of 'Do You Karate?' whip the already frantic crowd into a frenzy. MayKay wails, flipping her backcombed mane, Pockets headbangs at his keyboard like a man possessed, Tom pounds his bass, Adrian thrashes his kit.
In a wonderfully chaotic performance, Pockets uses bin lids as symbols, MayKay serenades the audience from a trash can, two bins are passed around in an innovative new crowd participation/percussion experiment as they’re bashed with a dizzying array of body parts and gadgets.
'Jake Summers' and ‘90210’ delight but 'Lend Me Your Face' gets the most raucous sing-a-long of the night, and MayKay, overwhelmed by the response, passes the mic to the crowd for the final chorus.
The set-closing ‘Battle Stations’ is particularly explosive as crunching bass, swirling synth and frenetic drums all compete in a mind blowing apocalyptic sonic climax.