It'd be interesting to ask the Ordinary Boys what they thought about the new crowd that has been going to their gigs since Preston done his Big Brother bit. The reaction and cheers from the crowd at some points seemed to be more in keeping with CDUK or TOTP. The place is filled with 16 year old wannabe rock chicks. This isn't the type of gig I'm used to. He's got to be congratulated for fact that by going on the show, he's propelled the band into selling out a decent size venue like the Newcastle Academy.

There's no doubting that there would've been a massive percentage chopped off this gigs gate, and it would be quite interesting to see the figures of gigs that followed the release of Brassbound. At the time of the album coming out, I remember it only being recieved with a luke warm attitude. Ordinary Boy's fans would've been happy but it wouldn't add a great deal of numbers to the fan base.

On the the flip side to this, attendance figures will soon drop. The band will have to stop milking the frontman's new found C-List celebrity status, and go and record another record. In that time I can see the temporary fan base diminishing, and the band almost starting back at square one. The effect might be as damaging as it is positive right now. Will the band always be known as the one with Preston form Big Brother? That's in the future though, this gig is now.

Arriving 10 minutes before the main act was to come on was perfect timing. Just long enough to purchase my £2.95 can of Carling poured into a shitty plastic glass. (It doesn't matter how many times I go to a Carling Academy, I'm always devastated by the blatant robbing of this. Suppose i'm the stupid one for handing my money over). The band took to the stage and started with a blistering Over the Counter Culture. This was the queue for a flurry of arms, legs and crowd surfing.

Although I've had a dig at the new fans, I have to say they made the gig a spectacle. Every song was met with enthusiasm, and it was great to watch everybody going mental. The opener was followed by Brassbound, the title track from the second album. Obviously this was too much for the (female) teenage masses, who seemed to emerge in twos and threes from the frenzy at the centre of the hall to the side of the stage where I was, dripping with sweat and looking a bit shook up. I usually get a good spot at the Academy, just to the right of the stage, in between the bar and girls toilets. Its never overly crowded, and there's a great view of the bands. Tonight my own little space was jam packed with ladies.

The point came for the band to play a couple of b-sides. This is where you may have sensed the bands slight frustration at bandwagon jumpers, Preston declaring ‘we'll see who the real fans are... here's a chance to win a couple of Ordinary Boys Brownie points'. To be fair, I not up on my b-sides, sticking to the albums, but they went down well, with the centre sections still bouncing. With the initial euphoria beginning to die down, it seemed the gig went into a bit of a dip. Not that it the performance was ever poor, but the middle section didn't have the kick of the beginning and end. Talk Talk Talk, was a highlight. The crowd singing the first part, and the band kicking in afterwards. This is definitely one of the bands stronger tracks and they did it justice on the night.

With the crowd on the main floor going mental at every given chance, it was strange to see the people in the front couple of rows in the upper seated tear sitting almost motionless and looking a bit bored. Saying this I have been in that section before, and the stewards can be a bit arsey about people standing. With one song left before the encore, this was the cue for Preston to tell everybody to get up and there was going to be a bit of a dance.

Boys Will Boys kicked in and the whole place went mental. Standing on the outside of it, I can't remember seeing so many people bouncing about to a song. The floor literally bounced. The Academy has actually got a bouncing floor, with joists underneath, that in turn went a bit tits up for a Ian Brown gig a couple of months ago. Although it wasn't a major disaster by any stretch of the imaging nation, the crowd were evacuated for safety reasons. This was crossing through my mind in the middle of the mayhem. A good song that never got the recognition it deserved when it was first released. I have to be honest and say I am a bit sick of hearing it now. It seems to be just making its way off every play list going, but it still sound great live.

The three set encore ensued, with the last being Seaside, another highlight. The only gripe I'd have about the performance was they never played their Specials cover of Little Bitch, my personal favourite by the band. On the way out a girl to my side was complaining to her boyfriend about ‘sweaty people rubbing up against her'. Yet more evidence of a one gig a year go-er, what did this lass expect? Bet she was at Take That at the Arena just a few days previous, sitting in her nice seat with her whistle, lighty up gadgets that you stick in your head, and her I heart Robbie sign.

I know I've gone on a bit about the new fans, but all in all this was a good gig. I'll be looking out for them touring the next album, presumably in a smaller venue with their proper fan base, and see if the reaction is the same as it was tonight.

I'll leave the final word of this review to my mate who was there with me, ‘It would've been great if it hadn't been for the pantomime".

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