With tonight’s line up being made up of 3 of the best indie acts from the early nineties, one thing that you are assured is that you’re certainly getting pretty good value for money.

First up are The Frank and Walters, who it’s is obvious from the off have not lost any of their comedic value or cheeky Irish charm, and what’s more the music sounds pretty bloody fantastic too. They treat the crowd to a selection of their back catalogue, (and although I’m hoping that they throw in their epic cover version of Tone Loc’s ‘Funky Cold Medina’, I realise that this is probably not going to happen – Readers, I urge you to hunt this track out, it is amazing ) Not letting this distract me from the current action , ‘This is Not A Song’ takes both me and the rest of crowd on a nostalgia trip and they bounce gently along with its melodic rhythm.

Their beautifully crafted tunes, are a delight to hear and the jangly guitar start of ‘After All’ gives me goosebumps and I’m thinking that many an indie marriage must have had this song as its backdrop, (and if not, why not?) the lyrics being both pure and poignant. It’s all too soon that their ‘first band on’ set is over and they leave the stage with he crowd wanting more.

Next up are local lads, Cud, and its not long before the deep booming tone of Carl Puttnam‘s vocals are bringing us to familiar territory with ‘Purple Love Balloon‘ , the vibrancy of the song competing with Carl’s madly coloured shirt, and clashing tartan trousers. It’s hard to say which one is triumphant.

‘Rich and Strange’ brings a crowd singalong with it, and I suspect like many others in the crowd am reminded what a indie classic this is and that Cud are possibly one of the most underrated bands of that period.

Once again the time flashes past and it’s time for the main attraction, and the familiar pounding beat of ‘Surfin USM‘ and its accompanying crowd chant of ‘You Fat Bastard‘ is already deafening before a note has even been sung.

The crowd gets even more animated when straight off the back of ‘Surfin USM‘ , they thunder into ‘Rubbish’ and its not long before the crowd surfers start and a mass of arms and legs windmill stageward, I realise I must be getting old as I am now watching this from the sidelines instead of getting a size 9 pair of Dr Martens in my face.

“I’ve just been given a list by Phillip Schofield” says lead singer Jimbob, alluding to the activities on TV the previous day , the crowd giggle nervously …we are all in on the joke and with this being Leeds there are bound to be a few Jimmy Savile comments flying about.

It’s already shaping up as a greatest hits type of set, with ‘Do re Me So Far so Good’ and ‘Lean on me, I won’t fall over’ getting the crowd bounding along with endless enthusiasm and boundless energy.

Their version of the Pet Shop Boys ‘Rent’, is magical, with Jimbob’s partner in crime, Fruitbat taking the lead vocal for part of the song and the thrashy guitar break giving a further cue for the crowd to go mad crazy bonkers and there is no let up with ‘Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere’ providing further bouncing fodder for this frantic crowd.

“Is everyone comfortable?” Jimbob enquires, “It is important at our age” recognising that most of (but not all, as there are a sprinkling of younger fans) the crowd have grown up with the band and would therefore be a similar age and indicating that I’m perhaps not the only one who these days prefers the easier option of watching from afar instead of getting directly involved with the action. As if in acknowledgment they slow the pace down, if only slightly with ‘Falling on a Bruise’.

Jim then tells the crowd that he’s picking his favourite 02 academy audience and that Leeds have to up their game as currently Brixton is in the lead. The Leeds crowd are a competitive bunch and they are not going to let that one go without a fight, and raise their game they do as virtually the whole of ‘The Only Living Boy in New Cross’ is drowned out by the crowd singing along, an action which is repeated again during ‘After the Watershed’ and ‘Bloodsport for All’. Such fervour and enthusiasm rewarded by Jimbob who exclaims “Bloody Brilliant!” . It’s unsure whether he is talking about his own performance or the crowds intervention as it could quite easily have been either.

Just when you think that the night couldn’t peak further Carter embark on another cover version, this time the track being given the Carter treatment is the Inspiral Carpet‘s wonderful ‘This is How it Feels’ and when ex-Inspirals singer Tom Hingley walks on to sing the chorus with them, the resulting noise from the indie faithful fans blows the roof off.

The pulsating start to ‘Sheriff Fatman‘ punches the air and you realise that it’s not over yet and again the crowd surfers go into overdrive well aware that this could be one of their last chances as they flail and then ungainly flop over the barrier, exhausted.

Carter restrict their live performances to a couple of gigs a year, and I’m torn between thinking this is genius, as it keeps everything exclusive and fresh and doesn’t over egg the pudding. On the other hand a gig like this just whets the appetite and there’s the sinking feeling that you’ve got to wait another year at least to experience this again. As they end on ‘GI Blues’ it’s with a touch of sadness that I remember that there was a rumour that this wont be happening next year. I for one am hoping this is not the case, it would surely to be selfish to deprive us.

If you missed Carter USM on this small run of dates, you missed out.

Jackie Nutty.