Mint IveThe Bodega Social ClubSaturday 7th March

For a band whose appeal lies for the most part in their gritty everyman image, Mint Ive sure know how to toss some mystery into the equation when they see fit. The swelling anthemics of tonight's set, billowing through the smoke haze liberally employed throughout, have them summon up a raw yet ethereal atmosphere akin to Verve, or Doves at their most reverby. Compared with the earthy, organic roughness of impressive support Spies in Limbo, Mint Ive's polished yet emotive brand of shoegaze is a whole-room affair; the Bodega's sweaty upstairs, rammed by the time the Ive's imposingly hoodied frontman Will Lillejord takes to the stage like world-weary prizefighter to ring, heaves with the stamps and pogoes of a couple of hundred no-nonsense punters, and the howls of 'False Idols' and its 'I won't darken your doorstep' refrain echo over Lillejord's fist-raisingly empowering vocals. Though briefer a set than they now warrant, tonight has Mint Ive pull together a half-hour of thrilling, power-to-the-people post-rock, cementing them as a band massively overdue venues double the Bodega's size.

Mint Ive played:

• Murderous Intentions
• False Idols
• Fearing
• Painted Picture
• Aim Too High
• To No Avail

www.myspace.com/mintive