If there’s one thing better than being at a secret gig, it’s being at a free secret gig. With the organisers forced not to reveal their appearance to avoid hurting the ticket sales of their ‘proper’ London show the night before, it’s a case of Sunday looks pretty bloody marvellous too for fans of Saturday Looks Good To Me.

If Pocketbooks are feeling any disappointment from being unceremoniously bumped from the top of the bill then they certainly don’t show it. Missing a member, as seems to be obligatory for their shows at present, the band win over another set of hungover hearts with their sheer charm, bonhomie and bloody lovely songs. The First World Record and Falling Leaves inspire impromptu outbreaks of ballroom dancing down the front, and the smiles continue right through to the closing combination of tracks from their just released debut single, Cross The Line.

There aren’t many bands who could’ve topped that tonight but Saturday Looks Good To Me are one of them, even though a lack of money has kept co-vocalist Betty Barnes back in Michigan. If anything, it just provides a platform for Fred Thomas to shine, and shine he does. Armed with a Cheshire cat grin fixed across his huge gob and an ability to freewheel on the guitar to stunning effect, rather than simply needlessly fret-wanking, his is a talent to behold.

Opening with a suitably giddy Alcohol, it’s a looser, more relaxed affair than the previous evening. Songs from the forthcoming album feel like old favourites already but the band accede to requests aplenty to keep the fans happy just in case. The likes of Dialtone and The Girl’s Distracted nestle joyfully alongside faithful but fun covers of Jonathan Richman’s Important In Your Life and Belle and Sebastian’s Like Dylan In The Movies.

With the organisers practically refusing to let them leave the stage, there’s still time a gorgeous slowed down run through Since You Stole My Heart before the rest of the band exit stage right to leave Fred to lap up the acclaim for a stunning solo rendition of When The Party Ends. Dazed and dizzy as you emerge into a rainy Sunday night, it was one of those free shows you’d have gladly paid a fortune to see.

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