I’m sure every teenager who isn’t over the legal drinking age curses liquor license laws when tiny venues refuse entry to every single one of them who doesn’t hold a fake ID or have a mass of facial hair. But every so often, bars will loosen themselves up and open the doors to a long line of crazy, young fans who have been waiting hours in line for the best view of a band. Such a rare occurrence involved Little Red.

The national ‘Here Comes the Night’ tour was used to roll off some of their new songs before laying them down in the studio. About half the set list was brand new material, but this didn’t stop the crowd from getting into it. Everyone was there to enjoy the music, not to worry about whether Little Red had changed to a more commercially accepted sound. Of course, they hadn’t.

Opening with Fight Song, Witchdoctor and Little Annie, three of the most rocking tracks from their debut album Listen to Little Red, it was clear they were as tight as they are on recordings. Classic doo-wop harmonies combined with a mix of styles obviously influenced by bands like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jerry and the Pacemakers, and every other band in my parents’ vinyl collection, created a mood very rarely witnessed in today’s teenagers. All they could do was jump, sing along with every word and grin back widely at the five smiling boys on stage.

The obvious crowd favourite was their encore, and signature track, Coca Cola, which rounded off the night in the best imaginable way. The crowd screamed ‘one more song, one more song’ and we were given quite possibly the most fun track in their slowly growing repertoire.

If there is one reason you should see Little Red, it’s for the pure thrill of watching a band unashamed to be playing music that hasn’t been widely promoted for a long, long time. What’s more is they do it with such class, and enjoyment, that you can’t help but love them. This was highlighted by drummer, Taka Honda, who didn’t stop beaming his pearly whites.

As for the band as a whole, they would have to be one of the tightest outfits around. It’s a mixture of the three part harmonies, the 50’s/60’s guitar tones and riffs, and, to top it off, charming looks – every girl, and probably some of the guys, melted when vocalist Tom Hartney unbuttoned his shirt – that makes them what they are.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE