The Paper Scissors/The Cairos @ The Troubadour, 7 August 2009

I headed out after work on Friday night not knowing what to expect. I got to the Troubadour - ah, the Troubadour - just as the Cairos were starting (sorry I missed you, Ernest Ellis). The Cairos are a local act that I've heard mentioned here and there over the past couple of years, but never had the opportunity to see. I was impressed. My overwhelming first impression was how young they are - they won the Brizband School Challenge in 2007, to give you an indication of age - but they're talented. Their songs are all energy: uptempo, punky alternative pop with a wicked rhythm section and some lovely melodies. A broodingly handsome lead guitarist tap-dancing on his pedal board gives what could be more of the same from this end of the 'alternative' spectrum a noisy edge. There were people dancing. These guys are one to watch.

I really had no preconceptions when it came to the Paper Scissors. I'd briefly listened to their MySpace, but hadn't come away awed. This show changed everything. I am not joking. I am a total convert and will be going to the next show I can make it to and all the ones after that. I learned after the show that the Paper Scissors have only recently become a three-piece. As far as I'm concerned, three is the perfect number. Jai Daniel Pyne, the lead singer and guitarist, is a towering, eye-rolling, shiny-headed monster, larger than life with one hand on the low ceiling as he bellows these anthemic tunes, the crowd bellowing along with him. I didn't even know the songs beforehand and I was bellowing along. We soon closed the polite gap between bodies and stage, knees knocking the raised floorboards and hands reaching. I'm not going to lie; I was right there, at the front, loving it. I guess that's one of the things that sets TPS apart from others of their ilk; these sweet indie songs are dance-tempo, insistent beats prodding at your feet (clopping blocks encouraging little-kid delight on my behalf), shouty singalong melodies sticking in your head.

We love the Paper Scissors. We howled for an encore, apparently the first genuine encore request of their Howl tour so far. Their set was so stripped back, they had to reprise a song they'd played earlier in the set; luckily it was the supremely infectious Yamanote Line, and with most of the members of Ernest Ellis and the Cairos on stage with them, was a roaring call-and-response wrap-up.

Please check these guys out. They are so choice.