Montage Populaire @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London

Putting on gigs must be a pretty thankless task at times, but the promoter of Hoxton's free 'Sheltered' night really pissed me off.

Before Montage Populaire set up their gear, somebody (I'm assuming it was the promoter and not a crazed political protester) got on the stage to announce "Mon Pop" were up next, followed by "the band we are all here to see", La Shark.

Well actually buddy, some of us were just there to see "Mon Pop" thank you very much; imagine how the group must have felt hearing that just before going on - what a kick in the gonads. A bit like that moment at school when somebody quips 'put your hand up if you like so and so' and everybody falls silent. Anyway, enough about my glorious secondary school "experience".

The group did take to the stage and debuted a fresh set of songs ahead of what should be a busy summer. Their sound has tightened in recent times and early use of synths, keys and trumpet has been continued, with the plethora of instruments better integrated than they had been previously.

One new tune, 'Change Seldom Lasts' had more than a hint of early Strokes to it... but somehow new. Glorious! Later on, 'Simon Says' was a definite highlight - and as frontman Luke Donovan suavely marched through the song I couldn't help but jig along.