This Our Thursdays heat was won before the second band even got on stage. Maud Reardon, frontwoman of alternative pop group Maud In Cahoots, had the audience in the palm of her hands as her sultry, modern soul vocals blended with unique and idiosynchratic melodies played by the fantastic band, which included a tuba, cello, violin and glockenspiel. The exquisite score was imbued with whimsical touches, like Reardon using a siren-emitting loudspeaker as a microphone. This band could end up giving Florence’s Machine a run for their money.
Rock-blues outfit The Cold 100 valiantly followed, with bass-player George Forsyth and guitarist Mark Walsh showing serious talent. But while singer Si Delany had all the rock star moves down, even flirtily sidling up to girls in the audience, his faux American accent was largey unintelligible, taking from the appeal of his strong voice. A little diction and a bigger crowd and they could rock it out, but tonight belongs to Maud.