I WENT to see an act which is attracting a lot of record company interest at the moment and there's certainly a buzz around them.

They're an outfit from Leigh called The Randoms. Songwriter Tim has worked for the management team who handled Sweet Female Attitude, who had a hit with Flowers, and girl band TKO, although he admits his style of music is nothing like either group!

The gig was at The Tavern, a well-known "New Band Venue" in Wigan. The five-piece band is made up of Tim, his brother Alex, Greg, Paul and Rob.

The show started with a blistering intro, leading into their first song Bar Music. Front man Greg Derbyshire is an excellent performer -- not just a singer, but a good all-rounder. The set was seven songs in total. Sycophant stood out as a good song, although it takes a tongue-in-cheek view of the music industry. The final two songs Suburban Summer and 1st stop America are still in my head.

The Randoms are a seemingly straightforward modern Rock 'n' Roll band having only short breaks and spurts of humour between songs.

Refusing me a demo unless I paid the price (I had no cash), I can only go off what I saw, and what I saw was very impressive.

In my opinion The Randoms prove there is life after Britpop and that guitar-based music doesn't have to be nu punk or nu metal. Look out for The Randoms. If you get an opportunity to see them do so. Next stop America? Who knows?