This was quickly confirmed when The Blackout; fresh from their tour supporting Lostprophets, got a screamed reception. Despite the fact they are an utterly dull band – ripping off from all of Wales’s most popular exports: Funeral for a Friend, Bullet for my Valentine and the aforementioned Lostprophets – they go down a storm with the crowd. And the sad truth is, is that this band, or at least its two frontmen, really seem to lavish the fact that this young crowd are praising them more than the fact that they are in a band. This was later confirmed at the end of the show when at the merch tables, one of The Blackout’s vocalists was surrounded by young girls and he was loving every minute of it, where as the other bands were just trying to get their music out.

And that is, after all, surely what this show is about? Music. Being a passionate musician and feeling immeasurably lucky at the fact that you are playing at all, even if it’s not to the audience you hoped for. This attitude, luckily it seems, is what carried NCF through this set. November Coming Fire did not let the fact that the audience seem to be more concerned about being seen than appreciating music, get them down. They still played to the same intensity as they would any show. And that saved the day and my faith in music completely.

Interestingly, what was left of the audience that were still in their stereotypical “scene” clothing, seemed to enjoy the sheer confidence and ferocity NCF play with. And that is a result if nothing else. Here, NCF make the best of a bad situation with a simply stunning set which could easily let you forget that they are playing to a mostly indifferent audience (or what was left of it; most of them departed after The Blackout played). Every song is played at a spectacular force, ‘Powerstation’ in particular is as atmospheric, emotional and violent as ever, where as the more punk influenced anthems such as ‘Devil on the Shore’ and ‘That Black House Made of Rubber’ are completely mind-blowing.

And if you think about it, NCF are used to this kind of treatment and just getting on with it. Despite coming from the hardcore scene and owing a massive amount to it, since November Coming Fire progressed monstrous amounts from their earlier work with their album ‘Dungeness’, most of the hardcore scene has blasted them for not being conservative enough. But this afternoon, NCF prove that they will get on with being the passionate band they are and that, eventually, they’ll find the audience they deserve.

Adam Turner-Heffer