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Electric Arena, Friday 4th September, 7.30pm

Old punks never die, they just turn up in the most unexpected of places. Magazine were THE thinking punk's band of choice. Having formed the Buzzcocks in Manchester, Howard Devoto sealed his reputation by leaving the band after the release of their first single, proclaiming punk to be over before most people had even realised it had begun.

From there, he formed Magazine, one of the first post-punk bands, incorporating an incredibly eclectic sound which defies categorisation. Pioneering a new way of doing things, Magazine were a kaleidoscope of colours to the industrial grey of Joy Division. The rubbery funk basslines of Barry Adamson propelled the music along whilst the neo-psychedelic guitars of the late John McGeogh battled for space with the glacial keyboards of Dave Formula. All the while, Devoto was the nihilism spouting intellectual despot who held it all together.

The key moment of Magazine's career was their appearance on Top of the Pops to promote their debut single, 'Shot By Both Sides', a soaring punk anthem which should have conquered all before it. Dropping the gauntlet at the worst possible moment, Devoto froze like a rabbit in the headlights, remaining completely motionless through out the performance, causing the single to lose all momentum it had gained, plummeting out of the charts following their Top of the Pops appearance. The band released a series of incredible albums, but never truly delivered on their initial promise. Thirty years later, will it be the same story?

As Devoto bounces out onto the stage, resplendent in a salmon pink suit jacket, the crowd roars in approval. 1979 might not have been ready for Magazine, but three decades of critical re-evaluation shows that the 21st century is where they always belonged. Every single one of these songs sounds like a stone cold classic, and Magazine perform them with a zeal which is surprising for a band of their stature. This is no oldies jaunt, in it for the filthy lucre, this is a band with something to prove.

Songs like 'Give Me Everything' and 'A Song From Under the Floorboards' sound completely fresh, perhaps due to the fact that Magazine's back catalogue has been plundered time and time again by the current post-punk generation, looking for that Holy Grail of alienation and isolation. Devoto is a captivating frontman, aloof, but never patronising. It's all very arch, but one is never sure if it's all just an act. Barry Adamson, clad in waistcoat and Panama hat, may be the coolest person on the entre site, effortlessly throwing out basslines that defy the laws of time and space.

However, Magazine's ultimate weakness has returned to haunt them, and a sense of intellectualism hangs over the proceedings. This music is chilly and cerebral, radiating almost no warmth. Magazine were, and remain, a difficult proposition, and are certainly an acquired taste. This is not music for everyone, but depending on how you roll, that might be a good thing.

Describe in a tweet:ÌýHot off the presses.

Good vibrations: 'Give Me Everything' might just have the best bassline, ever.

Life's a Beach: The guitarist's hair is horrible, making him look like some kind of sci-fi villain. Not a good look.

EP rating: 8/10