Love Music Hate Racism Carnival, Magna Centre, Rotherham, September 6

When Love Music Hate Racism announced their visit to Rotherham earlier in the month it could have been an opportunity to showcase the best talent in the area. However tonight has began with a rumble rather than a bang, and with the event instead curated by Jon 'The Reverend' McClure it's a line-up of the most bullish bands in the North.

There are a few exceptions to the rule though with Little Lost David giving a light subtle performance inside the former steel works, but with the audience fully tanked up since 3pm unfortunately his sound is lost in the vast hall. The Courteeners of course receive a more promising reaction, yet as they rattle through the hits from their debut album the group are as bland as stale bread. Resorting to diluted Oasis swagger the band leave their droning guitars echoing the room with little else other than a bad attitude haunting the air.

Then with the news that Roll Deep have pulled out of tonight's activities we are then left to wait as various Rotherham associates brush the audience into a series of football chants- for nearly an hour. Other performers are wheeled out but now the drunken crowd are unwilling to listen to anyone as poor local political figures are thrust onstage.

There is one person the crowd are waiting for however, and that is of course the man himself- The Reverend. Masking so much arrogance Bono suddenly seems modest in comparison, the group are surprisingly subdued onstage. Even The Rev himself manages to keep his mouth buttoned for the majority of the set, and when rarely he opens it, it is to lecture us on the (unsurprisingly) anti BNP spirit. This isn't a break from his usual set however, and as he stamps around the stage you can't help thinking he's pushing the audience for a reaction. Musically the group are barely a step up from The Courteeners with the band resorting to cheap chants to keep the booze idled crowd satisfied. Also as McClure clenches a fist for the final time, the band remains more aggressive than the 3,000 strong crowd.

Finally after another long wait the Kaiser Chiefs appear onstage and immediately show the other acts on the bill how it's done. Opening with 'Everything Is Average Nowadays' the group are a stadium band and it definitely shows. Pushing through a greatest hits set they're the only band of the night who make any effort to interact with their audience, as lead singer Ricky throws himself into the crowd in seconds. Showcasing a few new hits including 'Never Miss A Beat' the material sits perfectly alongside crowd favourites as the band pull together a predictable set. By this time however, no amount of theatrics is going to revive this audience and it's a shame the band have to perform to a crowd who may keel over at any minute.