FOR those who didn’t fancy staying in and watching the prodigious talent that is Justin Bieber pick up “Best International Breakthrough” at the Brit Awards, (a category that Animal Collective were nominated for in 2009-make of that what you will), the O2 Academy housed a superb alternative as two very talented, yet very different, bands performed excellent sets.

First up, were Banjo Or Freakout.

Starting out as the solo project of Alessio Natalizia, and working mainly on a laptop producing hypnotic remixes of songs by the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Wild Beats and Yo La Tengo, more recently he has acquired a band and begun focusing more on guitar-based songs for the release of his self-titled debut album out this month.

This performance was a very unassuming and honest one, with minimal crowd interaction, the band focusing instead on filling the venue with their spaced out blissful groove.

There are no distractions in their music; no unnecessary drum fills or guitar solos. All the sounds work together to create one all encompassing vibe.

They use reverb heavily as guitar parts are looped and distorted, swirling in front of hushed vocals that, while not being the strongest technically, work well within the songs to convey great sincerity and feeling.

Their sound is also very beat driven, but shows a minimalist take on percussion with steady rhythms that had the audience swaying back and forth.

Although not many appeared to know who Banjo Or Freakout were, with the release of the new album they are definitely a band to look out for this year.

After a short set, the band made way for the headliners The Go! Team, who, even before taking to the stage, filled the venue and drew the crowd to the very front.

Their music is the antithesis of Banjo Or Freakout as they performed an incredibly energetic live show, front woman Ninja really knowing how to work an audience.

Her vociferous vocal delivery and charismatic dance moves delighted the audience, while her warnings that she had been watching us, and so now knew us all personally had everyone dancing throughout, perhaps in fear of her giving a disapproving glance as much as in appreciation of the music.

The crowd tried their best to replicate the band’s draining live performance, especially during fans’ favourite “Ladyflash”, but Go! Team’s energy is hard to surpass.

The most impressive thing however, is their dynamic approach to music, as members of the band consistently swapped instruments throughout the set, which not only showed how talented they are, but also had the effect of changing the style of their songs as they stormed their way through flower pop, rock, and hip hop influences.

They brought their physically demanding set to a close by simultaneously collapsing on the floor covered in sweat.

Both bands were superb in their different ways, but you get the feeling that a band like Banjo Or Freakout went slightly unappreciated, their quiet electro shoegaze being swamped by The Go! Team’s brashness and energy, and so perhaps they would have been better off supporting a band closer in genre to themselves.

Nevertheless, the diversity of the music on show made for a hugely enjoyable night.