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Review by Shorty.

The North East's rising stars treat us to new material

Well after a weekend of moving heavy furniture I could have done with a nice bath and an early night. But the Park were in town so I headed to the Academy and hit the Redstripe to numb the aching muscles and bruising. We missed the first support band - a bunch of Scousers called Hot Club de Paris which was a shame becuase apparently they were a lot better than the second support band....who were that bad I hid in the back bar and can't even remember what they were called (they were called Love is All - ed)

At 9.15pm the Park graced the stage and we made our move to the front of a very sweaty Academy. For a short person I had a really good view but had forgotten my camera - DOH! Oh well I seem to be quite incompetent at posting pictures on here anyway so shove it! Paul looked mighty fine in his trilby if a little on the hot side! The sound in the Academy was awsome and the fab songs came one after another.

The Sunday night crowd took a little warming up but the intro of Going Missing soon got people bouncing. 'Graffiti' got people even hotter and 'Limassol' even hotter still. By this point Paul could hardly talk between songs he was that out of breath. Needs to give up those fags me thinks! A little rest to 'I Want You to Stay' left the crowd begging for more and the "Apply Some Pressure" chants started. A few new songs were introduced between the popular ones and I was very impressed. Paul took time out between tunes to tell us what inspired them, what they were about and other assorted annecdotes. He also sang lyrics out from his little red book looking uncomfortably like a US evangelist type. The Park left the stage without playing 'Apply Some Pressure' but the crowd applied some of their own pressure and the Park willingly came back on and obliged with my favourite song on the album. It was Fab stuff!

Apply some heat they definately did (though fortunately it wasn't Deep Heat), the sweat was dripping off the ceiling by the end....good job it was raining outside to wash it all off, and of course it removed the necessity of a shower once back home. A very pleasant Sunday night out....can't wait to be back for Larrikin Love and the Kooks on Saturday. (Hope we get a review then-ed)

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