BACK To The Bars? Aren't teen rap pack Blazin' Squad too young for all but milk bars and Mars Bars?

Here they were, the boys from the North London hood, all ten of them, nine MCs and, somewhere at the back, DJ Tommy B.

There was Rocky B, and Melo-D, and Spike-e, check; there was Kenzie, and Freek, and Krazy, check; and Strider, and Flava, and Reeper, and, er, no that's all of them. Check.

We had the full roll call from the rap school massive, all squashed on to that little Fibbers stage in the cause of charity, raising money for War Child and Shelter, as they took up position in two ranks, looking like they had just emptied Exit's racks for some skater gear.

Ah, but where was the pubescent posse of gushing girls? Instead of a heaving joint, there was only a crush of Squadettes gathered at the front, probably a ratio of eight girls to one Blazin' Squad member, all not daring to leave their post for a drink, for fear of losing their place.

How come the floor wasn't full? Perhaps it was down to the booking system for these Passport: Back To The Bars concerts that will feature the likes of The Darkness, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Big Brovaz and The Cure playing venues in the Barfly bar chain this week. Fans had applied nationwide for passes to these gigs by way of a text message and lottery-draw system.

Could it be that parents from across the country had said, "York? On a Tuesday night? You're not going. You've got homework to do"?

Anyway, onwards to the 9pm show itself, a one-hour set - with a breather in the middle - that had the feel of a school concert with the cockiest scallies up on stage doing their bling thing.

By comparison with such originators as Public Enemy, NWA and Ice Cube, Blazin' Squad are a novelty act, a pop-rap gimmick with a limited repertoire of tricks beneath their hoodies.

From Here 4 One to the closing Flip Reverse, they built each song on repetition of rhythm and vocal refrain, each T-shirt taking it in turn to lead the party. But there was often a lack of clarity to the rapping - a prerequisite skill of this musical genre - and the lack of innovative sampling and mixing meant the live presentation lacked variety or surprise. The songs, and the performances, were as indistinct and interchangeable as Ant and Dec.

"You lot have been a great audience. We love you girls," said the Squad, as all such pop fodder must say. "We'll be back in York soon. No doubt about that." Just not on a Tuesday homework night next time.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, March 03, 2004