I love it when gigs have a real sense of occasion; when the crowd is on parade, and you know people have spent hours selecting an outfit and preening to perfection. Rockabilly fashion is spreading, and Club Academy is tonight paying host to one of the most jaw-droppingly cool bands to grace Manchester this year. Toting a tattooed double-bass and the cutest dress this side of Japan, singer Patricia kicks off proceedings with her velveteen husk and sparks an implosion. Her voice is perfect – dolorous yet honest, with a crackled edge of rage that compliments the new wave Rockabilly sound of Horrorpops delightfully. The boiling guitar of former Nekromantix frontman Kim is sadly under heard tonight, drowned out by drums and vocals, but his tight-zipped moves and snarls provide visual entertainment nonetheless. Add to this the head-splitting appeal of Go-Go dancers Kamilla and Naomi with their tongue-in-cheek Zombie-style dance moves, and one could simply not ask for a more attractive and pleasurable band to watch. The Pops thundered through the highlights of latest album Bring It On, emerging triumphant over the beleaguering sound imbalance. Manchester’s best dressed bop and holler the night away. The final score: Horror 1 – Pop 0. | 
