Part One:
It was my first time in the former Camden Palace, which is now called Koko. It is an impressive venue, all red and gold walls with the biggest mirrorball that I have ever seen. Once I got over the décor I realise what a shambles the whole night is. The two supports Cass McCombs and Six by Seven both come on stage late, which begged the question, why did they not cut a few songs out of their set? I was nervously watching the time as Six by Seven finished with what seemed like a 10 minute guitar solo – how fucking selfish.

The Delgados come on sometime after 11 and by that point I am so disappointed because I know that I will have to leave before they play 'No Danger', which in my opinion, is one of the best songs ever written and also one of the best songs heard live. . The sound is not very good and there continues to be problems for the rest of the time that I am there. Alan’s voice is not very audible but at least you can still hear Emma’ glorious, warm voice. What redeems the lateness and the terrible sound is Stewart’s banter. He

the very maximum 200 people with people constantly leaving. It is a sad sight and I’m sure it will be a sadder by the time they get to the epic 'No Danger'.

I can’t understand why a band as brilliant as the Delgados fail to attract a bigger crowd. Even their last gig in London at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire was not sold out. They have everything going for them – fantastic tunes, intelligent lyrics and the luscious vocals from Emma. What’s wrong with people? Can’t they see a good thing staring them in the face? With songs like 'Accused of Stealing', 'Coming In From The Cold' and 'Lights Before We Land' (which were played while I was there) and other from the 'Great Eastern' and their new under-rated album 'Universal Audio' you can’t help but be impressed. So come on people, get down to your local shop and spoil yourselves by introducing yourself to the Delgados. Then you will wonder how you ever survived without them.

Review by Sonia Pagliari

Part Two:
Much the same as Sonia, I was overwhelmed by the palatial splendour of Koko's interior decor - the ornate balconies, the huge lighting rig, the sumptuous leather sofas. So I settled down into one of the aforementioned sofas with anticipation for what would surely be one of the best gigs of my life. How could it not be? Between them, The Delgados and Six by Seven had produced two of my favourite albums of all time ('The Closer You Get' and 'Hate', respectively), as well as having produced a number of memorable live performances over the years - The Delgados show at the Lyric Theatre last year was as close to a religious experience as I've had.

First of all though, there's Cass McCombs' set of dreary indie drudgery to get through - I'm sure you all know the sort of thing we're talking about here; workmanlike semi-tunes played on jangly guitars played by poorly shaved skinny blokes. Music for people whose ears have given up on life. The combination of pedestrian student rock and comfy upholstery almost whisks

me off to the land of nod, but just in time McCombs' set shambles to a close and we are treated to the opening bars of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Y Control' by tonight's excellent DJ (hell, they even played a bit of Sonic Youth).

Taking our cue we headed to the front in anticipation of Six by Seven, only to be confronted with what seemed

like an eternity of soundchecks and men with concerned looks on their faces fiddling with wires. By the time Six by Seven finally make it on stage, it's almost half past ten, and I'm starting to get nervy about catching the last train back to Orpington.

Thankfully, Six by Seven blast away any doubts I might be having with a barrage of shimmering riffage, which starts out like a whisper before cascading around our ears like a roaring tidal wave of dissonant feedback.

Or at least that's what should be happening. What's actually happening is that I'm standing by the front of the stage, within spitting distance of the band, and can barely make out what they're playing. The reason? Some silly bastard went and built the venue with the speakers ten feet behind the heads of the front row! Add this to the constantly blinding spotlights that rake across the audience (at times there are more lights on us than on the stage), and it all makes for a rather disappointing spectacle.

both stand out as highlights.

Also standing out, and giving a ray of hope for the future of this most precariously balanced of bands (they've shed several members and a record label in the last couple of years), is new single 'Catch the Rain'; built around an unrelenting, pounding drum beat and augmented with searing bursts of guitar, it, along with recent one of single 'Bochum', is the sound of a great band returning to something close to top form.

Another lengthy delay before The Delgados take to the stage, and if anything the half hour or so of tinkering with knobs and dials has made the already ropey sound even worse - vocals echo around the cavernous space, or worse still disappear completely, and the bands usually expansive sound tonight sounds tinny.

Fortunately though, they've got the songs and the charisma to carry it off, although personally I would have liked to have heard more tracks from 'Hate'

The new record does have its moments though, and tonight they appear in the shape of jaunty indie pop number 'Everybody Come Down', the lush harmonies of 'Girls of Valour' and the tear jerking 'Everybody Come Down'.

Sadly, as with Sonia, I was forced to leave before the end (I didn't get to hear 'No Danger' either) with the bitter tang of a potentially special night ruined by a poorly designed, poorly run venue.

Review & photos by Paul Madden

Take our word for it - visit www.delgados.co.uk and discover one of the UK's most precious musical treasures.

You should also take a look at www.sixbyseven.co.uk to find out for yourself what they can do when playing somewhere that you can actually hear them properly.

Oh, and Cass McCombs site is at www.4ad.com/artists/cassmccombs should you be so inclined as to pay him a visit.