Plug, Sheffield, Saturday 8th July 2006 album launch review by Deanna Fletcher.

The Gentlemen

Seldom has a brand new band generated such a buzz of excitement as The Gentlemen. Described as "fresh, quirky and simply brilliant," their debut album 'Smile Back At Me' has touches of We Are Scientists and The Kaiser Chiefs but also a whole heap of dazzling originality. The album was launched on a sultry evening at the prestigious Plug venue in Sheffield and I joined 900 others to catch a bit of pop history.

Strolling out on stage with grins and perhaps mischievous smiles, The Gentlemen looked somewhat amazed and sincerely gratified by the carpet of people filling Plug on the launch night of their debut album. The audience erupted into a wall of noise as the band broke into "I'm Not Leaving" and from the massed voices singing along the uninformed punter would have assumed The Gentlemen were seasoned hitmakers rather than this being their first headlining gig. The band showcased their list of fast-becoming favourites such as "The Course Of True Love", "Digging Deep" and "Grateful". The atmosphere was truly electric and the euphoric vibe was only brought down a notch when lead singer Nick Noble was momentarily abandoned by his fellow band members when he took to the keys for a performance of the ballad "Broken".

Endearing and appreciative throughout, The Gentlemen returned in the encore with a dazzling performance of "Electricity" which, with its infectious opening guitar riff and manic drumming, had the audience reaching new levels of delirium as they sang along. One can only hope that the future career of this new band from Sheffield will be as bright and passionate as their first, unforgettable concert.