Erotic Secrets of Pompeii, henceforth to be known as ‘ESOP’ for reasons of brevity, are an art-rock post-punk renaissance-sci-fi outfit from Bristol. Their debut LP has been well received by music consuming oddballs everywhere. And as one of those oddballs I stood in what could reasonably be described as a matt black fallout shelter with optics and a stage, waiting for the evening's entertainment.

Google Maps has it listed as Move, 4 Exeter Quay but tonight as the South West's own kings of curiosity hold court there, it is a Palace of Pomp and Pageantry. There is a crackle in the air... Is it excitement, is it magick, is it dubious cowboy wiring? Happily it's just the first two.

First up, noise merchants Lady Shoulders who veer relatively smoothly between Bring Me The Horizon and Buzzcocks. With a shirtless drummer, a Hawaiian clad bassist and a school uniform donning vocalist they are visually as much a hybrid as they musically. Very loud, very fun.

TheBigBadSad didn't like their own performance, but they were wrong, it was fabulous. Broken guitars, familiar looking  saxophonists (formerly topless drummer), briefly absent bass players, speedy vocalists (got to the bar and back without missing a line), teabagging, unplugged equipment, playing guitar with a wine bottle and miles and miles of smiles. What's not to like?

As Bristolian arthouse musos ESoP take to the stage, the atmosphere sparks into a more coherent energy and with the band bedecked in red and black they appeared like Kraftwerk, reimagined by Aleister Crowley.

Musically they were very sharp and we were treated to most of Mondo Maleficum plus a couple of older tracks that have withstood the test of time very well. Front man Thomas Hawtin is a cross between a witch doctor, a ringmaster and Beetlejuice. He stalks and squirms his way around the (albeit tiny) stage like a dark priest on speed, throwing more shamanic shapes than you would find at a stall at Glastonbury Tor and sounding absolutely fantastic. He held the crowd's attention, allowing the rest of the band to not put a note wrong all evening. On a day which was both the last day of the tour, and his birthday there was no suggestion he wasn't fully committed to the performance.

As the final chord of Utterly Rudderless faded, one sensed that this is a band that with a bit of luck could go on to playing places that you wouldn't shelter in during a nuclear attack. With more performances like this I wouldn't bet against the next episode of ESoP's fables including a big break.

Words - Rich Dunn

Pics - Steve Muscutt