Last week, the Evening Press brought you news that the position of The New Nick Drake has been filled by promising young troubadour Willy Mason.

Those of you who care about such things may be pleased to hear that the adjacent pigeonhole, that of The New Nirvana, is also now occupied.

Before last night's Fibbers headline set by the band in question, there was an intriguing diversion in the shape of Liverpool five-piece The Little Flames, whose experimental garage-rock set the heads bobbing, and whose bewitching frontwoman, Eva Petersen, set the pulses racing. Chaotic dissonance snuggled up cosily to captivating melody, and there was enough raw talent on show to bode well.

Although headliners Nine Black Alps will already be sick of comparisons to a certain Seattle trio, the similarities are difficult to ignore. Last night revealed cosmetic likenesses such as James Galley's beefy drumming style and the throaty howl of Sam Forrest (former bassist in York's Halcyon Band), but also that, like those of their forebears, the band's songs are simple enough to be catchy, but have enough depth to justify further listening.

Any claims that the band might have the impact of Nirvana remain ridiculous, but Nine Black Alps promise to have commercial as well as critical success.

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, February 23, 2005