On Monday, Oxford was treated to four live favourites, currently delighting crowds as part of this year's NME Carling Awards. In healthily diverse shape came Alfie, Starsail, Amen and current heroes JJ72 riding high with enthusiastic radio backing.

Missing acts I and II my punishment was taken in the shape of Amen who don't miss the opportunity in proving why they are one of America's more popular exploding exports. Amen Tasmanian devils possessed by MC5 assault acolytes and uninitiated equally, only to struggle with questionable sound.

Singer Casey Chaos's expulsions were regularly swallowed by a buzzsaw squall of guitar along with a criminally inaudible bass'n'drum. Shame.

Trooping on with typical rock bravado rigging were climbed, mike stands swung and monarchy disparaged. The Queen only has the indignity of having a cacophonic ditty being dedicated to her more delicate regions while the drummer must avoid repeat attempts on his life by Chaos's homicidal stage careening. One for the noise-head in your life then.

Not to be outdone, JJ72's Mark Greaney proved he can shriek with the best of them, though what's a prerequisite in Amen soon became overbearing within the more delicate confines of JJ72's numbers.

That said, Mark's vocals were quite rightly centre stage, exploring the limits of what has arguably made them the front runners for the well-worn 'saviours of modern music' title. Eye-popping outbursts were followed by softly-sung acoustic breathers showing a welcome confidence in JJ72's (not-so) secret weapon.