What a stonking start to the tour! I was a bit unsure about the venue when I first arrived - the sticky carpet was unbelievable - but the atmosphere was amazing. The band played practically all of Matachin interspersed with tracks from Burlesque and E P Onymous, and Benji’s wonderful Unclothed Nocturnal Manuscript Crisis.

The brass section (I was on their side) were in a particularly silly mood but the whole band seemed to be having a good time. The tunes got everyone dancing, and the sprung dance-floor certainly added to the bounciness of the evening.

In the really "big" numbers like "Bruton Town" and "Widow’s Curse" I could really hear what all the instruments were doing - what well orchestrated pieces they are! I didn’t have the chance to wave my (newly purchased) yellow handkerchief this time, but did play a kazoo!

Difficult to pick out highlights because everything was so good, but Cholera Camp was great fun, and the unusual intro to "London Town" (the first encore) took us by surprise. The set was finished off magnificently with Frogs’ Legs and Dragons’ Teeth. Phew!