Think back to the nineties – Live and Kicking was all the rage, boy bands were rife and we all wore jumpers which changed from ‘hot’ to ‘cool’ depending on the temperature.

It was a simpler time, a time which we should never wish to revisit – so why oh why have day-glo touting scene kids cropped up from everywhere with a taste for all things ‘nu-rave’?

There’s a chance that a lot of the blame can be laid squarely at Hadouken!’s doorstep, and tonight the Carling Academy is full to the brim with felt-tip soaked customized ‘H!’ t-shirts and a whole bunch of glow sticks…

After an energetic and punchy set by support act and fellow nu-ravers ‘Does It Offend You, Yeah?’, Hadouken! take to the stage. Their garb is pretty standard fare for this scene, an intriguing blend of scene-chic and hip-hop inspiration.

As they start to fill the room with their garage rap-inspired grime the crowd respond in kind. The atmosphere is electric, causing more than a few members of the audience to start dancing in a way that is difficult to describe within the confines of the English language.

Instrumentally speaking, Hadouken! do a great job; the drums are crisp and pack a punch, the bass snakes along at a tight pace and the keys add that oh so robotic edge that these kids seem to go crazy for. Hadouken! crack on with renditions of their new single Liquid Lives along with fan-favourites like That Boy That Girl.

Vocalist James does an admirable job, although it has to be noted Hadouken! aren’t really the band to go for if you want souring vocal gymnastics; but for the music that it is he fits the bill perfectly.

Overall, the set is entertaining, dynamic and passionate, showcasing exactly why this band is at the centre of a storm of hype right now. The only downfall of Hadouken!’s frantic set is its length. They play about 8 songs before leaving the stage without an encore, totalling just shy of a half hour.