Wussy: a new obsession

You know those times when you hear a band for the first time and they've just got it and then you have to rush around enthusing and telling people to go and listen to them for themselves?

You do? Good. This is one of those times.

I was alerted to the existence of Cincinnati five-piece Wussy by an email about upcoming local gigs. The write-up sounded interesting and I'd started googling them before I realised I was going to be out of the country when they played in Brighton. Rats. Because they were good, really good.

This SWSX showcase was a pretty impressive place to start: give it a go. Nice bikes, too...

As I googled further, I found - unsurprisingly - that I'm not the first person to rate them. Eminent US journo Robert Christgau has already dubbed them the best band in America. It could be that they just know how to press the right buttons of male, white, rock critics of a certain age... but I've tried them on my daughter, too, and she was keen.

Anyway, if you like IRS-era REM, Loaded Velvets, pretty-much-any-period Yo La Tengo... chiming, well-struck guitars... yearning, less-than-perfect-but-so-what vocals... strong, strong songs... I think you might get Wussy too.

And what's more you can see the best band in America in Brighton's pocket-size Green Door Store on 29 September. I'm going to have to make my way up to Brixton's Windmill the week before...