Before the big name tonight, though, is UK based CRAZY ARM, who are taking massive strides to being a must-see band, with recent album ‘Union City Breath’ being well received and the band making some friends in fine places. Tonight the Peel gives them a warm welcome, and where they used to be a little rough around the edges live, they’re now bang on and becoming a fantastic live band. With performances like tonight, 2012 should be a great year for the band.

By the time AGAINST ME! take the stage, most of the room is already full of booze and sweaty, and the band does the excitement in the crowd justice by producing a finely selected set in the most emphatic way possible. Despite the fact that they’ve been adorning much larger stages recently, you can tell where their heart is, and they suit the “intimate” settings so well. It might be the beers aloft across the room, or it might be that the band know when to throw in a classic, but there’s little better things in the world than being in a room with a great band having as much fun as the audience.

Newer material may have alienated a few along the way, but even the more recent efforts get a great reception, and it’s yet another evening for the Kingston scene to be proud of.

TOM AYLOTT

Check out an interview with Against Me! bassist Andrew below:

Dave House was lone support and I missed a couple of early songs as I was intrviewing TGUK. Davw’s a great songwriter a d one who comes across as sincere and passionate on record. With his live show he manages to recreate both, adding energy to make his set hugely entertaining. His vocals remind me of The Weakerthans no end, but ulimately Dave is his own man and very few can match his storytelling style. By the last few tracks there are some pretty major singalongs – playing in front of family and friends he never needed to win anyone over, but the sweaty 300 in the Peel left with a smile on their faces nonetheless.ÿ

From the second the Kansas fivesome started ‘Coming Clean’ the Peel fell in love. This is no money grabbing reunion tour – The Kids love it. They play with a smile and with energy, cracking a few jokes inbetween songs. James Dewees loves it -he plays with such an infectious grin that even those in attendance who weren’t fans of the band would have been won over. Th setlist was pretty flawless. ‘Mass Pike’, ‘Action and Action‘ and ‘Valentine’ get huge singalongs. During ‘Holiday’ the crowd sing louder than the band. It’s special stuff – one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments.ÿ

They hope to return next year and there may even be a new album. Maybe. The Kids are back – and on the basis of this performance they’ll be teaching a few of their younger peers a thing or two.