Graham Coxon, York Fibbers

Occasionally, if you’re lucky, you might end up at a gig which really feels like it’s something special. Once or twice you may even go to something that genuinely means something. Tonight is a gig that feels life changing, and it won’t be long before everyone else realises it too.

Bloc Party kick things off. Angular jilting guitars intertwine with every trick in the Big Book of Being Ace to give a performance that just goes further to confirm the Londoners’ status in the leading pack of up and coming new talent. Not too boring, not too much reliance on the effect pedals, it seems they have the mix just about right. Recent single ‘She’s Hearing Voices’ appears to be far from a flash in the pan, and any band so tight, with the kind of dynamic these lot possess deserve to go far.

What happens next seems to be somewhat of a blur (if you’ll excuse that unfortunate turn of phrase). In between ramshackle versions of Happy Birthday (Coxon turns 35 today), hero worship and startled expressions down the biggest camera lens you have ever seen, the Godfather of the last 15 years goes to prove that he’s in better form than ever before. Forget the mid nineties - he was holding out on us then. Every track from forthcoming 5th album ‘Happiness in Magazines’ tops anything else you’ve heard in the last five years. The back catalogue is bigger and ballsier than ever before. For a few hundred people, this could well be the set of their life.

‘Spectacular’ is the best song you’ll hear in 2004, but ‘Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery’, ‘No Good Time’ and ‘Freakin’ Out’ aren’t far behind. From the very first listen every single one feels like you’ve heard it a million times before, and at the same time is more fresh and essential than any of the Hoxton fashionista could ever hope to be. There’s no more of the introverted genius seemingly shy to share his work with the ensambled masses - even Coxon himself knows that this is top drawer stuff.

The quiet bloke in the glasses appears to be on to something here. We suggest you book your tickets now - otherwise your Grandchildren may want to know exactly why you didn’t go see a living legend while you had the chance.