2:54: Leadmill, Sheffield, 29 October 2012

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In the same way everything can be linked back to Kevin Bacon, a recurring theme for this year's gigs is the Chapman Family. Standing in the Sheffield's Leadmill, winner of the sexiest venue sign in South Yorkshire, we're here to see 2:54, pals of Stella Vine, painter of the backdrop to Chapper's immense gig at MIMA.

2:54 are the queens of the dark pop underworld, their music billows on stage and drowns us in its wake, simply put it's brilliant. The lynch pins, sisters Hannah and Colette, feed of each other's guitar and vocal prowess, drawing in the crowd and leaving us blindsided in the wall of noise.

2:54 - as razor sharp as their cheekbones suggest.

They breeze through their debut full album release, 2:54, and even find time to cover Seal's Killer which went down a storm confirming Sheffield are in need of a tribute night. You can tell they've been on tour internationally, they play a polished set despite the bassist clearly struggling to find himself in a pub backroom fresh from playing Toronto but the frontwomen rescue the gig, playing a sultry set before leaving us to the winter night.

A superb gig at the Leadmill from both 2:54 and PINS, the latter winning it by a fraction for being the best new British band of 2012. And who says girls can't play rock 'n' roll?

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