So my local pub has seen some pretty terrible bands in the past(who could ever forget Saudi-Arabian Timbrel ravers El Khaki?.) But as I downed the dregs of my 5th pint, ready to return home to the arms of my loved one, the landlord Steve announced via the microphone on stage that a band were about to play. A local band, from Speke to be exact. Wasted Youth they call themselves. So on they stumble, alcohol fumed(bar the bald, black drummer), messy hair and slightly odd looking. Dysfunctional maybe?

Then without as much as a word they launch into their first track, literally launch the track lasts for around two minutes and is unhinged, loud as hell, and delightfully melodic, in a way reminiscent to that of the Arctic Monkeys earlier sound. Like The Monkeys they are a a four piece band which focuses on the shared vocals of the two lead singers Tom Clarke and James Fray. Their greasy hair and 70s style dress code made everyone pay attention, everyone in the room knew we were witnessing something which could be either horrendous or wonderful.

O'Neill's is known for its more traditional sound, sing along acoustic sessions with aging Irishman. But when Tom announced the next song would be 'Haze', we didn't have a second to think. The sound of Tom's White Fender Stratocaster blasting around the pub, as people were now approaching the dance floor. Not even two songs in and these cheeky scousers had won over a room mixed with drug dealers, aunties and uncles and under aged drinkers.

Fast forward to five songs in as the boys blast out their catchiest song of the night 'Sideways Shuffle' which has "Single" written all over it. By this point at least twenty of the fifty people in attendance where up onto the dance floor. The band seemed to have everything, The looks, the songs and that scouse charm. They didn't have to say anything, there was a little bit of banter with a boy clearly under aged and legless. When Tom asked him how old he was, the boy went silent, Tom preceeded to enquire, encouraging "Come on, you can tell me, I'm not selling fireworks!"

They played their last number 'Cigarette', a two minute stratoblast into out of space and back again. Distortion on 11 and volume like wise. The band went off to a series of cheers. I managed to chat with them afterwards, the strangest thing was, this was their first gig. Just eighteen years of age and they were blasting out tunes that The Ramones would have been proud of.

So to summarise, THE most exciting band I have seen this year thus far, remember the name, WASTED YOUTH...