Lacuna Coil / Dirty Little Rabbits / Dommin @ O2 Academy, Bristol

OK, I'll be honest - I was really there for the support act. You see, I think they are THE NEXT BIG THING. I've seen Lacuna Coil before and they were awesome, and I'm aware that Clown from Slipknot is the drummer in Dirty Little Rabbits. But it's Dommin who made me put my coffee down and go watch when I heard them on the TV, very recently.

I don't often make predictions, but I think they may be the next big thing. The music is Goth/Rock with an electronic 80's twist... they remind me of bands I heard when I was younger, the passion and catchy tunes of Vision Thing era Sisters of Mercy, with the electronic elegance of Depeche Mode. Comparisons will be made to Him, with whom they are also touring, but they are male. It stops there. Kristoffer Dommin's vocal style is somewhere between a gasp, a howl and a wail. He is slick and suave like an alternative Bryan Ferry, not so cute maybe that the ladies will flock in droves, but real enough so they will really rather quite like him, and their gentlemen will find him possible to emulate.

The band as a whole produces a polished, modern Gothic sound, using weighty keyboards in the style of Type O Negative, but without their compatriots'ironic twist.What makes them unique in sound is that hint of Rockabilly, and a consistent groove within the music. Bassist Billy James has more than a passing resemblance to James Dean, and after the show he told me that their recent high profile is entirely down to record company support. "They have been brilliant, they are 100% behind us," he stated.

Certainly they are the darlings of Scuzz TV, with videos for "Tonight" and "My Heart, YOur Hands" regularly on the playlist in advance of the extensive support slots in the UK and Europe. Kris was delighted with the reaction from fans in the North: "Glasgow and Manchester, they were going wild!" he admittted. "I wasn't expecting it to be quite like like that."

At Bristol they were welcomed with open arms, many of the varied crowd already singing along to lyrics and giving them a huge warm welcome. The set may only have been a half hour, but that small taste is no doubt setting up a huge fan base for their future. And with such a slick, polished sound, look and attitude, they deserve it.

Next up Dirty Little Rabbits, featuring Clown from Slipknot on the drums, looking like an ordinary looking, not-so-slim guy of indeterminate middle age; a guitarist like a scientist and with the manic look of an inventor such as David Byrne; a bald and very young keyboard player who stands on his equipment; a bassist in a cheap top hat from the local fancy dress shop; and an California blond who looks around 40 and wears a skimpy dress made of the cheap nylon used for kids' dance shows, even edged in the same sequins I remember hand sewing onto my daughters ballet kit.

Musically, there was more than a hint of PJ Harvey experimentalism, and with a guitarist intent on looking like a technical genius - but with no heart and soul - and a vocal that cuts like Lena Lovich, I have no idea how this band could possibly appeal to an audience like this. In a society brought up on media images of young blonde perfection from the West Coast, I'm not sure the lady's appeal would break through any boundaries here. But then, its a Slipknot side project and they share a record label with Dommin. Crowd were largely unimpressed, and talked and bought beer throughout. For the record, I think they were technically very good.

Lacuna Coil were the main attraction of course, for an audience spanning as many as three decades, with only a slight hint towards superior male numbers despite Christina Scabbia's sex symbol status. That band came on looking a lot like their fans, bringing with them that genuis dual vocal that allows everyone to sing along, and they delivered the solid, entertaining performance every member of the crowd would expect from such professionals.

For all the bassist was absent with a shoulder injury and a replacement drafted in, everything ran like a well-oiled machine. Almost with clinical precision; not sure if I like that, I tend to prefer a little more "live" action... but banter was the usual top knotch, crowd response was perfect - and we all know we could be drinking with these people, they are like us! I was over to stage right and the sound was patchy but it's normal for that venue. My son assured me that in the middle of the melee it was first rate and very clear.

Why this band do not own the world I do not know. If hard work and sheer quality meant anything, they would be superstars. They should be. 10/10 as usual.