The Glitterati @ The Purple Turtle, Camden, London

Whether they're one of the UK's best kept secrets or not is certainly a question you can ask about Leeds based rockers The Glitterati who released their debut album nigh on three years ago on Atlantic Records. Where they've been in the intervening years is another thing that could quite happily be up for debate as well, as for the most part the band have dropped below the radar, seen their second album delayed, and now feature two new members.

So when they take to the stage at Camden's Purple Turtle in London, it is certainly with more than a little to prove. Are they still the same band that made waves a few years ago, and are they going to be picking up where they left off?

The answers really... well maybe. No, this isn't the same band, and that's very evident tonight, as is the fact that the band feature new members on rhythm and bass. The music is good tonight, but it's these new members that are the real focus of the show tonight, as Baz Morrison (bass) and Gaff (guitar) that lead to an almost farcical juxtaposition on stage to the right of vocalist Paul Gautrey. It's blatantly obvious to everyone here that Gautrey and lead guitarist John Emsley are old hands as they rock out like pro's, and equally evident that both Morrison and Gaff are uncomfortable at worst, nervous at best on stage.

It's all unbalanced, and detracts from the overall performance in a disturbing way. While Emsley throws his guitar around with wilful abandon, Gaff hardly moves and Morrison is hardly less static.

So while the music hits hard, the Glitterati have a long way to go as a live band now. Gaff and Morrison need to be comfortable on stage with themselves as well as part of the overall unit, and until that happens, it's going to be hard work for the band to do much more than scrape through in the live setting.