Solid rockers

(Morning Star, Saturday 29 January 2005)

LIVE: 22-20s, Edinburgh Liquid Rooms

THE 22-20s are a band that it helps not to know anything about - where they're from, who they are - none of this means anything when Devil in Me kicks in, rocking relentlessly.

The trio from Rock Central are kings of rocked-up blues, with riffs to die for and a bad attitude that would ruin McFly's career.

Singles like Twenty-two Days and Such A Fool are strong, but the difference between those and album tracks is barely noticeable - they're all ballsy old-school rock standards.

Their look is pure Tindersticks, all dark shirts and suits, probably with the smell of smoky venues such as this one buried deep in the fabric.

Singer Martin Trimble peers artfully from under a mop of fair hair and dares the most static of viewers not to move to the infectious blues rhythm.

Bassist Glen Bartrup is none more Jagger, all pouting lips and floppy hair, while drummer James Irving keeps it tight and yet oh so loose.

The bands sound is beefy and big, but surprisingly melodic, more so here than on record.

They are technically perfect and there's no reason why, in this age of chancers like Kasabian, the 22-20s should not be more successful.

Gigs like this will really put them on the musical map. And not a only map of Lincolnshire, which is where they're actually from.