So, on with the show, and, as has been a firm set-opener favourite this year, ‘Pol go straight into ‘Pioneer to the Falls’ and, unlike the rather lukewarm attempt at re-creating it’s dark mystery as shown on record in London, this time, it is absolutely perfect. Jaw-dropping, even. And this is a good indicator for the rest of the evening. The whole night just felt so much better in every way. ‘Turn on the Bright Lights’ may have been ashamedly ignored both nights but ‘Say Hello to the Angels’ is so incredibly tight tonight that I (and everyone else it would seem) is willing to over-look that. Everything just sounded huge; the band looked comfortable, the audience actually genuinely gave a shit, and the whole experience was just brilliant – ‘No I in Threesome’ provides a fantastic sing-along for all involved.

It is the songs from ‘Antics’ that come off best here. And I’m not talking about the singles. I’m talking about ‘NARC’, ‘Public Pervert’ and ‘Not Even Jail’. They are flawless and amongst the best of the set which gives those songs the colour they perhaps deserve or at least were misunderstood on record.

This isn’t a perfect set for me just because I would have liked to have seen more TOTBL material – Swapping ‘The Lighthouse’ for ‘Untitled’ or ‘The Specialist’, despite being quite a nice rare treat, for ‘NYC’ or ‘Stella’ – but, because they are so overwhelmingly at ease and confident in what they are doing, on top of it sounding great, it seems no real trouble. Even Carlos is willing to joke about his unspoken-but-well-gathered cock up, smiling when the band return for an encore saying “I feel much better tonight”. Normally such humour wouldn’t be associated with this band, but they have shown in full day light here that they are still a huge force to be reckoned with. Consoled nicely as they finish the night on an absolutely, beautiful, perfect version of ‘PDA’ ending a truly great night.

As if it were possible, this band have gone even higher in my respect and adoration for them, after all the shit I had to go through this year just to see ‘PDA’ – the original date cancelled, Leeds set hideously short, London Ally Pally being shit - let alone a full set. It was worth the wait.

Adam Turner-Heffer