William Nein Tea Party @ The Enterprise, London

I saw this band a few weeks ago at their first ever gig, and they blew my nuts off. "Lads", I said after the show while puffing on a cigar, "Artrocker will give you your first review!"

A few gin and tonics later and I'd forgotten their name. Oh dear. Truth be told, it didn't help when I sat down at the keyboard to write them up, so I'd sadly assumed that was the end of it.

Until now! Because as chance would have it, I've stumbled into their third gig tonight, and vowed to remember things this time. The group are headlining along with a few other notables, of whom we'll briefly explore.

Shanakee are a classic ROCK band that growls like the Jim Jones Revue, surfing a wave of ecstatic riffs and Keith Moon drumming. They are quite simply, a professional thrill ride.

Hollowmen have a harder time of it: initially I think they sound like The Libertines. Then they actually play a Libertines song ('The Good Old Days') and it appears that they are doomed. However they do have the odd science fiction melody and the occasional passionate howl - these guys are absolute beginners, and perhaps now is the wrong time to review them.

And so to the prize boxers: William Nein Tea Party are excellent from the word go. Kim Deal bass riffs are spread over barbershop harmonies, suggesting a band with a sense of humour. Then things get darker: 'My Apology' sounds like the Pixies going for a 1950s pop song but maintaining the psychotic grit.

This may only be their third gig, but looking across the audience, lips are already synching to their lyrics: the magic's there, and everyone seems in tune to it.

The singer (who looks like a certain bald Smashing Pumpkin) is doubling up on an acoustic guitar, but the music's far from folky: the songs burn holes into themselves like black acid, sometimes descending into terrifying anxiety, but always with melodic charm.

Taking a bow with the anthemic yet Orbison-esque 'Alison Rose', the band stagger off stage, a mess of grins and sweat. The WNTP are at their most interesting when the music's darkly heartfelt, but their guts and their passion are never far behind.