The Last Shadow Puppets, Glasgow Carling Academy

As we observe the room where tonight’s gig will be held, we see all the typical signs of an average indie gathering: beer-swigging lads, skinny jean-clad girls and Kings Of Leon songs blasting out of the speakers. The roadies start to set up the stage, the crowd waits in anticipation, and then… hang on, is that an orchestra up the back?

The sillhouette of a conductor emerges and violins start to play as the lights go down, and it’s clear that this is going to be special. It’s clear that tonight, The Last Shadow Puppets (yep, the side project from that bloke in Arctic Monkeys) are adding a touch of class to this slightly dodgy area of Glasgow.

Alex Turner and Miles Kane take to the stage, meeting in the middle, and blast out ‘In My Room’. Frantic strings soar over the voyeuresque lyrics while the band stand in front of scarlet curtains- the scene is reminiscent of that from the video of a twisted Bond theme.

Turner and Kane pause for a moment before launching into ‘The Age Of The Understatement’, the album’s title track and first single. It comes without warning and is a welcome surprise; it’s also the standout moment of the night. This song was made to be played live; it gallops with quickening pace and tension, and the orchestra sounds exquisite. It’s final proof that ‘The Age Of The Understatement’ is one of 2008’s true masterpieces.

The gig rolls on with consistent quality. Turner bashfully plays with his mop top as he introduces covers of Nancy Sinatra, David Bowie, The Beatles and Leonard Cohen. The songs sound curiously transformed with the combination of added strings and the two frontmen’s northern accents. The album tracks take on a new meaning, too- ‘Calm Like You’ is lush and flowing, while ‘Seperate And Ever Deadly’ is performed with more seething audacity than Madonna in a divorce court room. And as Turner tenderly sings current single ‘My Mistakes Were Made For You’, we can practically see the female contingent of the audience bursting with adoration. These boys don’t rely on tedious Pete Wentz-style charisma for success: they’re genuine, and they’re shy, and they’re talented.

It may be their first and last tour before Turner returns to t’Monkeys and Kane to The Rascals, but the strength of the gig demonstrates in no uncertain terms that should they return, we’ll welcome them back with enthusiasm. Until then, you can always start a ‘TLSP for next Bond theme’ petition.