It's a cool, crisp November night with Christmas just around the corner, but for the 200 or so occupants of The Forum tonight, Christmas has come early. However, tensions are running high as we anxiously glance at our watches - 10pm, 10:30, 11 - as the minutes roll by slowly, still silence as the support act that were initially to keep us warm, prove a no show. People are getting edgy, time is ticking on but a glimmer of hope comes hand in hand with the dimming of the lights and vaguely we can make out the all too familiar silhouettes of five Dublin lads who have never let us down before and will surely prove the present and future no different.

                                 The electric intro to the Karmarama gem, 'Only a friend' leads us by the hand to the gig of gigs with the almighty kings of the live experience belting away. Feels like home. Suprisingly, we find the audience interaction premature with lucky number 3 being a song which has become the religious psalm of the band, 'Thanks' (insert HEY where necessary.) A roof lifting homage to keyboardist GEOFF WOODS leads to the mellow blues solo and lead singer Dave Browne seems in good spirits - this is gonna be good. If his mind could be read, Ill bet that's what you would see. He seems in such high spirits in fact that he pockets away his trademark insultage of the crowds offering of Hey! and replaces, "well that was pretty shite", with "jesus, that wasnt that bad actually!" The crowd are psyched, the boys are men!

                                Its a heavenly night as their 'Heavenly day' sends notes soaring in every direction. Dave's lusting for more crowd interaction - he cant get enough! Aonghus is unabashedly letting the beholders aware that he loves his job! Johnny is going mental in his trademark, Go Johnny go go go way. Geoff's teasing us with every keyboard solo giving the gig wings to take flight. Steo's there too. Being Steo. Doing the songs unthinkable justice and lifting us all with a solemn look that seems to say, "I know something you dont know." Maybe one day we will find out just what that something is.

              Maybe he knows that this isnt your average Dublin band. Maybe he knows it's more than power pop. Perhaps Steo has seen the future in his crystal ball and knows it's brighter than the past. He must revel in keeping this secret to himself anticipation growing with ever gig. Steo isn't the quiet one no, Steo is merely biding his time!!

               As Dave gets all nostalgic, all I.Qs drop rapidly as we are treated to the best version of 'You are my sunshine' youre ever likely to hear in your life! Cue a good old karaoke of their trademark 'Sunburst' which they play for probably the millionth time as if it was the first. This band have been through the mill. We've followed on after them and after tonight so will many others. For to witness Picture House live, is to unwittingly give yourself a musical addiction. It saddens everyone to see them jaunt off stage, everyone except me however. For this is not the end of the gig of gigs. The best is yet to come. Tonight they brought the house down tomorrow they bring the world with them.