Most of the seats at the Troubadour have been moved away to make way for the gig tonight, which has sold out on presales alone. Mr Maps begins the night with ‘Til the Money Outruns Us. They quickly settle into a groove, with Chris Perren practically beaming with joy at his band. If you haven’t come across Mr Maps yet, I suppose the best way to describe them would be to picture the music and computer geeks at school having an extended jam session. Perren is obviously the creative genius behind the group, guiding the others through multiple soundscapes and producing an array of loops, noises and hums via his laptop and synth. At times the sound is cacophonic, but Perren manages to hold it all together. Special mention must also go to the drummer, Sangdae Yang whose beats provide structure to the sometimes chaotic arrangements.

The John Steel Singers are on next, thinly disguised as Clam Slam – œ!’. The reason for their disguise is they are showcasing a selection of songs from their upcoming album. The new material is more driven by percussion, particularly the second song (I’m going to call it Slam Song #2), with guitarist Luke McDonald given his own drum to bang away on. With McDonald on extra drums, and Scott Bromiley and Pete Bernoth on horns, Slam Song #2 sounds rather like a rocked up version of a school marching band. The third song (Slam Song #3?) features slight dance elements – at one point McDonald plays repetitive – œdance’ loops live on his guitar. Despite some novelties, the new songs are still very JSS, including the familiar layered vocals and a good dose of Sgt Peppers. No doubt the new album will continue on the successes of the previous EPs. Towards the end of the set, lead singer Tim Morrissey literally pulls the crowd to their feet, before the band launches into Rainbow Kraut, much to the crowd’s delight. The boys end with The Clam Slam Song an impromptu prog-metal jam, made up of the numbers 7, 3, 12 and 10 (presumably corresponding to chords), selected by the crowd.

Skinny Jean begin their set with negro-gospel number, Good Morning the opener to their new album, Dolce Doggerel, followed by Aliens, led by main vocalist Shem Allen. Allen’s voice seems slightly more strained than usual early on in the night – perhaps it is the nerves – but he mesmerises the audience with his intense facial expressions and electric body jerks. Allen’s vocal range and unpredictable energy are bared in Anti0kie, as he reaches unbelievably high notes, interspersed with wild, erratic screaming. The band seems to be drawing on some raw energy from within and it is fascinating to watch it unravel. Bluesy gospel number, Army Wife, is one of the highlights of the night, as the crowd becomes fixated with Jemma Hicks’ musical story-telling. Hicks’ voice carries through the whole room, and I am struck by how lucky this band is to have so many talented vocalists. If that wasn’t enough, there is a guest appearance by Heidi Schlenker, a former member, who comes out to sing Anhedonia with Allen. I am particularly pleased with this addition of the night, as it is Heidi’s sweet voice that really cements the song as a delightful, melodic gem.

The dark and brooding, Alarm Heist, is possibly the pinnacle of the night. Allen explores the depth of his vocal range in this Nick Cave-inspired song, telling us the story of a horse carrying his master’s body after a bank robbery gone wrong. Allen voice rings out, interspersed with moments of silence, creating an air of stillness and anticipation, before the band attacks the senses with the song’s fervent finale. While the more up-beat songs are good, it is Skinny Jean’s ability to tell stories and draw the crowd into tracks such as Army Wife and Alarm Heist, that really make them a joy to watch.

There is a slight technical glitch before the last song, as Perren (from Mr Maps) joins Skinny Jean on stage. The band closes with A Blessing, a cathartic song emanating Radiohead and Sigur Ros, with Allen’s voice soaring high above Hicks’ vibraphone and Perren’s electronic blips. After a moment’s break, Skinny Jean are welcomed back for an encore, along with Mr Maps and the Clam Slam Singers, to treat us with a rather chaotic cover of Young Hearts Run Free.