The first support band on were melodic rock outfit Sabio, who I was most impressed with. Their catchy tune "Happy Go Lucky Joe" really got everyone in the audience jumping, and although I would find it hard to pigeonhole their sound, Semisonic comparisons sprang to mind.

After Sabio were Lowfinger, who I have already said I am not too keen on, and even after giving them a second listen I am still not impressed. Sorry.

The lights went down and Kumar attached setlists to the stage, a massive cheer went up as the lads took to the stage, tonight Stu was sporting his "Rock" t-shirt, Josh was wearing something that read "Think", along with his (now trademark) backwards baseball cap, and Steve in (yet another) tight t-shirt, this time in black.

Straight into "Kinda Day I've Had" and it was apparent that Josh's voice was a lot better, although I had heard from a friend earlier in the day that Steve was now feeling unwell, onstage though you wouldn't have known, Steve was giving it his all as always, and made us all chuckle when we realised he was wearing his McDonalds name badge on his guitar strap, complete with two stars (wonder whether he ever got the other three?).

Stuart got MASSIVE cheers every time he sang, I guessed there were a fair few Stu fans in the audience, and his backing vocals in "Lonely Hearts Company" were getting higher and higher until he said "okay I'm a girl!"

"Burning All The Photographs" is sounding stronger and stronger with every night of the tour and tonight I even forgot the Nirvana-comparisons and we all rocked!!!

Jane remarked to me that the band sounded great this evening and she was right, everything seemed to gel together perfectly.

Josh's "fresh prince" went down really well, and even Steve joined in with the dancing at one point, much to my enjoyment!! Stu's "human beatbox" routine has been perfected now and everyone was clapping along and singing with Josh, creating a real feeling of camerarderie amongst the fans.

Finishing off with "Everything" the crowd went bonkers, Stu throwing drumsticks into the crowd like his life depended on it and Josh thrashing life out of his guitar!!!

The final bars of "Everything" rung out through the Fleece & Firkin and the audience went absolutely mental!!!! It was at this point that I realised, being a fan of a band this good, I am part of something very, very special.

After the gig the band hung around for ages signing stuff and we found out that they had actually played an acoustic set of five songs outside the venue for all the people who didn't get in, Jane remarked to me that "not every band would do that", and I realised that the Dum Dums aren't just special, they're more than that, and if they keep up this level of blistering live performance and admirable dedication to their fans, then, quite simply, world domination beckons. Get ready!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review by Duncan Alison.....

DUM DUMS Sat 9 Dec, Fleece and Firkin, Bristol

"Tonight about 150 fans couldn't get to see the gig as they had no ID. When I turned up I found the boys playing an impromtu acoustic set in the street for all the fans who couldn't get in. Josh had an electric guitar with no amp, so it was basically a singalong with no music. See, the Dum Dums care about their fans!

Josh, Steve and Stu and the turned-away fans were mighty cheesed off about the whole thing, and understandably so - the security and bouncers were real scum. I myself am 22, I haven't been ID'd anywhere in over four years, yet they still wouldn't let me in - luckily Steve managed to sort me out so I got to see the gig...

Inside was very busy, but there was obviously space for about another 150 people...no surprise there. The crowed inside were fairly old for a Dum Dums gig, as you had to look 25 or over to get in! Josh comes on stage obviously fuming about all the fans not getting in saying something like "Well done for getting in - you're the lucky ones" before launching into an aggressive "Kind of day I've had" - which is an ace song that really should be a single. The second song, as usual, is a b-side, this time Robot Boy which sounded heavier than on the CD.

Josh does less banter than usual, as he's obviously so annoyed with the venue, so launches straight into You Do Something To Me with his capo on the wrong fret. Then we get a rare outing for Can't Stand It, which I haven't seen them play live for over two years, but they've played it a few time on this tour. The next single Army Of Two sounded fantastic with the sampled beat underneath the track which wetted the fans appetite to hear the new recorded version. Until My Ship Comes In was also fantastic. They played it the best I've seen....New song Photographs is a corker, and Josh announced it's going to be on the second LP, but knowing the Dum Dums they'll write so many songs that it'll have to fight to make it on to the album! It's a heavy tune about burning all the photographs of your ex after you've spilt up with him or her, and it got one of the biggest cheer of the night. Nice.

Josh throughout the gig seemed to be deliberately trying to sound like Billie Joe out of Green Day, which I've never, ever seen him do before. This is surely a bad idea because people are gonna start accusing Josh of copying. This would be a bad turn for the band as the songs Josh writes a so much better than anything Green Day does.

Dum Dums play with the usual energy which makes this band special in todays' bland music landscape. The band epitomise what's good about live music ie, great performance and great songs. Compare this to ITV's Song Of The Year programme - have you ever seen such a bunch of commercial toss aimed at christmas shoppers?

It really is a crime that Can't Get you Out Of My Thoughts wasn't played on Radio 1. It should have been the song of 2000. I don't know anyone who doesn't love it and it went down a storm as the last song of the gig's main set.

Some bloke behind me spent the whole gig heckling and shouting "Play something that everyone knows!! Play number two!" (i.e., Everything). What did you expect mate? When you bought a ticket did you realise the band would play a whole set of songs rather than just one song then go off??

Of course, he finally got what he wanted at the end of the encore and this was where Josh finally let out what was on his mind all night commanding everyone in the venue to not buy any more beer in the venue and telling the security where to go. Josh wanted to say that all night but obviously left it until the last minute just in case a barman took offence and pulled the plug out.

Although horribly marred by the absense of so many of those who bought a ticket for this gig, it was still fantastic as usual. I hope soon people realise the talent and energy of this band and put their singles on the A-list...Job's a good'n."