THE Departure are making friends in the build-up to the October 18 release of their second single, Be My Enemy. On Tuesday, they play Fibbers in York, midway through their debut headline tour.

The Northampton band, all aged between 21 and 23, have already charted with their first single, the path-setting All Mapped Out.

Their rise has been quick. In May, they were only third on the bill to The Killers and Surferosa at Fibbers; in August they had a mid-afternoon slot on the Carling Stage at the Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival at Bramham Park. Now The Departure return to Fibbers as headliners with their ferocious twin guitars, lithe bass and sharp drums.

"Their dynamic style of punk/funk rock and fondness for silk scarves and fancy footwear (Gary Numan joins Japan?) crashed their all jerkin', all yelpin' debut single into the charts and on to MTV, Popworld and Radio 1," says Fibbers boss Tim Hornsby.

"Taking The Cure, U2 and Depeche Mode, their particular 21st century brand of Eighties' inspired guitar spike is more wiry, darker and beastlier. They're the kind of band the really cool kids like."

Tickets cost £6 on 0870 907 0999 or £7 on the door.

Updated: 15:42 Thursday, October 07, 2004