I don't think I've ever been to a concert with more trepidation or more of my friends asking me so many questions about the band. That band, Reckless Love, seem to have split opinion and whether you've seen the band live or not, all rockers seem to have made their minds up one way or another. Questions such as "Was that Uber review personal?" or statements such "You'd be a fool not to go see them live" perforated my week and, as a Reckless Love virgin, I was more than happy to see for myself which camp I'd fall into. I'm happy to go against the grain of shared opinion and not be a sheep - I'll be a sheep if that's my opinion........

After missing two trains, my feelings were not great about tonight. I was instantly thinking it was one of those days where if it could go wrong, it would so after getting to the Academy to find that the merch desk consisted of two shirts and a pair of drumsticks I'm still on that downward spiral......

Walking through the doors to find the place ¾ full for the support band The Dirty Youth was a shock to say the least - this was an early gig and I've been to this place many, many times to find no one here for the best support bands, so to hear a hearty cheer for the end of one of their songs so early is more than refreshing and a turning point in the evening. I must have missed only one or two songs of this welsh five piece and they're a pretty accomplished bunch. Part BFMV mixed up with some QOTSA. Having a front woman can give you the edge in the teen market of the cynical promoters and magazines but the best compliment I can give is that you don't really notice that fact - you notice that they are a band, not a front woman with a backing band. The only real downside for me was the fact they tended to change tempo of their songs halfway through and lose the opening momentum of each track ('Requiem Of The Drunk' for example). The crowd certainly seem appreciative of their efforts and hopefully they shifted a few CDs as a result. Check out their debut single and best track 'Fight', which they finished their set with for a true flavour of a band that I'm sure you'll be hearing more of.

Now before I start, I'd like to rant about students who think it's funny to wear 'ironic' and 'funny' mullet wigs and headbands to these gigs. Now I'm all for honouring this era as if we're all in a RATT video, I'm all for bad tattoos of Zodiac Mindwarp and spandex but we DO know the difference between honouring and loving and being a twat. If killing was legal, I'd shoot you all.

The place is pretty full and I'm surprised at the amount of RL shirts in attendance and when Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys......' is turned up loud, the crowd sense the moment as they cheer excitedly as three dark figures walk on stage and it's as lead singer Oli Herman runs on stage that the crowd great them with such a force that I'm actually taken aback by the response. Looking every bit like a young David Lee Roth/Michael Monroe, he launches into 'Animal Attraction', the title track of their second album. I'm not actually joking when I tell you that there's a sing-a-long within the first song. At this point I'm already thinking Uber Rock may have got this wrong? 'Speedin' follows and I'm getting carried along on the way of happiness that is in this room. When they play ballad 'Born To Break Your Heart', you realise that there isn't a quiet voice in the room - EVERYBODY is singing it. They play it 50/50 between their two albums and debut album track 'Sex' equally goes down a storm. A quick guitar solo gives Oli the chance to change his shirt and he comes back sweet talking the crowd and you realise he's actually a very good charismatic frontman. 'Dirty Dreams', 'Back To Paradise', 'On The Radio' all follow and last track 'Wild Side' is a full blown party of people simply having a great time.

As they part to cheers, within seconds a full blown RECKLESS LOVE chant goes up - how many times do you hear a proper chant for an encore these days? - after a needless drum solo they return to finish the night triumphantly with 'Switchblade Babe', 'Beautiful Bomb' and final track 'One More Time'.

This was one of the best gigs I've been to this year without a shadow of a doubt. The energy and class of the band outshine every single recording they've done - I know why they get criticism on record but live they simply rock with class and not one whiff of cheese is to be found. It's not often you go to a concert and find such excitement and energy between the crowd and the band but tonight was a triumph and having witnessed it myself, I'm glad they came out on top.

Those of you who have already decided to miss them at HRH had best alter your plans - You'd be a fool not to witness this band live.

[Photo kudos to Matt Phelps]