Palma Violets, Queens Social Club, Sheffield

Come 8pm, and Sheffield’s Queens Social Club, easily mistaken for a shooting location for ‘The Full Monty’, is already brimming with people eagerly awaiting Palma Violets. Expectations are high enough already: the band’s debut album ‘180’ received a positive reaction for its sheer energy and charisma ignited by its grubby mix of The Clash-meets-Bunnymen punk.

The band’s raucous enthusiasm has transferred well live in previous gigs, and tonight’s shenanigans certainly offer nothing different. ‘Best Of Friends’ is a highlight: an eruption of volatile punk vitriol that sends the crowd in to a hysterical frenzy. The chemistry between guitarist Sam Fryer and bassist Chilli Jesson reaches its height during the song; these are BFFs whose close relationship only enhances the intimacy of tonight’s gig.

Elsewhere they’re just as charming. ‘14’ and ‘We Found Love’ are bona fide punk gospel, all blistering organs and savage screaming. They show no sign of tiring, especially when a stage invasion during ‘Brand New Song’ threatens to end the night early. Pushing technical failures aside, the band break in to improvised drum bashing, and dance the glitches away. Keyboardist Jeffrey Mayhew then triggers an electronic riff, briefly shifting the band from fresh-faced punk obsessives to a group infatuated by the acid-house allure of New Order.

If proclamations of Palma Violets as the latest saviours of a genre that’s needed ‘saving’ many times has put you off - their live shows will certainly change your mind. Not only are they a rollicking, great live act, but one of the most exciting too, a group showing no sign of tiring just yet.