GIVEN their latest album was available as a free download, some at the Southampton Guildhall on Friday (May 16) might have expected complimentary tickets, too.

But regardless of the admission price an enthusiastic crowd got full value from The Charlatans, on tour to promote their 10th studio album.

The five-piece band played a few singles from You Cross My Path, such as Oh! Vanity, but the main focus was on rolling out the crowd-pleasing anthems that have sustained them over their 18 year life span.

Lead singer Tim Burgess - sporting a new basin-like haircut - is the life and soul of the ensemble, loosely waving his arms around and toying with the audience.

His liveliness ensures he stands out like a full moon among his statuesque band mates, who appear fully focussed on producing the group's excellent sound.

The guitar and bass of the outfit dominate their output - and Burgess' angelic voice - which gives a testosterone-charged, driven feel to their music. Given this, the final piece in the band's jigsaw - the keyboard - is a welcome component.

The crowd - a mixture of students and late twenty-something couples who look like they'd followed the band since their inception - were enthusiastic and appreciative. As you might have expected, they were most animated when the band dished out their greatest hits, such as The Only One I Know, Wierdo, You're So Pretty and One To Another.

With such a strong back catalogue, The Charlatans are worth every penny.

12:06am Saturday 17th May 2008

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