Returning to the Tunnel Club six months on, my entrance is greeted with a glum(-mer than usual) response:

"We've been here since seven and still haven't soundchecked," explains Andy.

Further, a notice at the back of the stage forbids the use of smoke machines. No one looks happy...

At about quarter past nine, they surprise us all by ambling onstage and launching straight into "Crazy Horses". It sounds rather bad. "Thanks for the soundcheck," growls Andy.

The awful mix and lack of smoke dampens no one's enthusiasm though, and 'The Pixies' get down to get up to all their usual antics: head-banging, air-guitars (though they do smack of piss-taking, rather), and Jane's 'I'm at Woodstock' dance.

The noise is, at one point, interrupted by an encounter with Kev - Mr. Fixit and all-round good guy.

"Does it sound really loud and horrible?" he bawls into my ear.
"Yes," I bawl back.
"Good!"
Others later spoke of a similar experience. I took the opportunity to enquire as to why the band were playing in near total darkness:
"Why aren't there any lights?"
"'cos I turned 'em off."
Oh.
"Why?"
"'cos they wouldn't let us use our smoke..."
Aha.

The set ambles on well enough; no one looking particularly happy. Still...

Then, just prior to "San Francisco", a representative of the next band tells Alastair to hurry up. The guitarist reassures him that it is the final number that they're about to play and they begin the slow pulsing build-up that is the now accepted climax to an Acolytes set.

The wait for the climax is, as usual, long - a little too long for our poor fretting friend who issues the command to "get 'em off - now!" Suddenly the drums fade.

Interrupted in mid-song, Alastair takes the only act of recourse open to him: he swears, demands the drums be turned back on and hurls a mike stand across the stage.

Thus the evening ends rather prematurely and all that's left is to stand in the bar debating the night's events and what happens now.

The last word must go to Jamie: "Funny, the last time they played here it was awful too."