TV21 Edinburgh, Liquid Room - Sunday 15th October 2006 Every band has its tales of woes about support slots. Although in theory such shows are a way of reaching a wider audience, in practice all sorts of horror stories emerge. On the face of it this looked like it might have been one of the latter for TV21. Not only were they third on the bill below Stiff Little Fingers and, ahem, a punk covers band, but there weren't really all that many people in the venue when they took to the stage. Fears of a shitty support experience though were dissipated throughout the next half hour as the venue quickly filled up and by the last few songs there was a decent crowd inside. The growing crowd were rewarded with another excellent set. Based on a pared down version of the Cabaret Voltaire set, it was, as Norman suggested at one point, the pop set. But it's surprising what a difference the loss of just a handful songs made to the pace of the set. Because it was direct and to the point, probably the smart choice given the audience, and moreover it was accessible. That combination of factors quickly won over the crowd who by the fourth song 'When Cole Was King' were clearly onside. That represented something of a triumph for the band because, for the first time since the reunion, the converted were outnumbered by non-initiates who were probably hearing the band for the first time. So if the aim of the show was to reach different people then it appeared to succeed admirably and I only heard positive comments about the band at the end. Easy to see who does and who doesn't eat their Ready Brek ... Of course, why the hell should it be any different? This was a set of consistently high standards with good sound throughout and one which was bookmarked by the two main highlights. New song 'Last Man Standing' got a second airing, again as opener, and it sounded even better than last time out. And to round things off 'On The Run' sounded every inch the classic single that it is. In between, the previously mentioned 'When Cole Was King' was probably the other highlight with its pounding beat probably a factor in winning the crowd over. Confidence is probably a major factor just now in the band's performances. They seemed to thrive on the reaction of the bigger crowd and it only seemed to add to the sheer enjoyment they take from playing. That was evident throughout the set but no more so than when Norman, off mic, sang the trumpet intro from the alternative version of 'On The Run' for his bandmates' entertainment as the song started! The only drawback on the night was the brevity of the set - an inevitable consequence of the support set. Still it allowed the band to present its best face to a largely new audience and hopefully this show will create interest in future shows. Which is all to the good because this is a band which deserves to be heard. Soundcheck Photos	TV21 setlist Last Man Standing End of A Dream Ambition When Cole Was King It's Me Shattered By It All Snakes and Ladders On The Run Links for this show TV21 index TV21 Official Site TV21 Myspace Site Ross McIntyre's TV21 site with photos from this and other recent gigs