Young Guns @ Birmingham Academy

Trains are a bitch. I have to leave the venue two songs into what looked to be a storming set from Kids In Glass Houses. I'm gutted. Tonight, the band (and Aled especially) look every inch the rock stars they will hopefully become in 2010.

My upset at missing their set is somewhat relieved by Young Guns earlier set. I see these guys play so much, that I try to avoid whittling on too much about them, but it's the end of a great year for them, so fuck it, I'm gonna dish some praise out. Tonight, as usual, they display perfectly why they are garnering so much attention. From the grand opening of incoming single Winter Kiss, to the ringing final notes of fan favourite Daughter Of The Sea, they are on fire. The crowd is clearly in love with them as the girls scream and the boys circle pit. In Gustav Wood, the band have an undeniable star. Charming and engaging, the boy is easily capable of taking on the mantle of Kerrang's next pin up boy. More important though is the songs. In my humble opinion, not since Lost Prophets dropped Start Something has a band managed to combine so well the riff heavy musicianship of the rock and hardcore scene with the mile high choruses and guitar hooks of the pop world. And like tonights headliners, 2010 could very easily see these High Wycombe lads turning into stars.