If you’ve read any of this blog before, you’ll know that when I set my mind to it I can write a bit. I enjoy writing, but I probably don’t do it regularly enough, other than my football reports.

So when I go along to a gig and feel absolutely compelled to write about it, you know it must have been thoroughly enjoyable. And let me tell you, that’s a massive understatement.

Deportees could perhaps be described as something of an Aberdeen supergroup. Take two parts Eddison (singer/guitarist Adam K and guitarist Rick), Adam Mo from 10 Easy Wishes, Edgar Prais drummer Christy and erstwhile keys player Diarmaid, add ridiculous harmonies and a few monster riffs. Spin and repeat. They’re a bit good.

This evening, they’re support to Welsh indiepop wizards (and wizardesses) The School, along with Flora Cook and the brilliantly named Allo, Darlin’. Sadly a busy night of meetings and football writing meant I could only catch a little of Allo, Darlin’s ukelele-laden set and, the main attraction in my eyes, Deportees.

If you’ve not seen them before, opening track “First Breath of the Day” provides quite an introduction. Three of the quintet unleash those harmonies,with only the merest hint of percussion to keep time, before Adam K’s powerful voice joins the fray. It’s a good 75 seconds before the keys ease their way in, but when the rest of the band kicks in thirty seconds later, by God do they kick in.

Although their folk and country references are there for all to see, there’s nothing Deportees like more than to rock out, and they’ve got the blend between those influences and the rock tendencies nailed down.

After the crashing crescendo of the opening track, they launch into the rootsy reggae blast of “Lover Don’t Feel So Sad”, and you can’t help be drawn in by the beautiful “somebody loves you” hook. Even this early in the set, if you’re not absolutely awestruck, then your soul must be with Lucifer in the seventh layer of Hell.

The tight-sounding “Tongue Can’t Tell” keeps you hooked, before Adam Mo ditches his bass in favour of the fiddle for the folk-tinged “Stay The Night”, but you won’t hear Robbie Shepherd introducing this on a Saturday night. There’s that wall of sound again, looming large in front of you, and there’s really no escaping now.

The fiddle is swiftly put back down as Adam K introduces an as-yet-untitled track. “This has been called Big Marching Drum One, or just Bastard,” he says. “We’ll go with Bastard. I like Bastard.” I like Bastard too, Mr Keenan. Very much so.

Deportees (courtesy aekido)

The catchy song comes to an end to rapturous applause from the respectable crowd, and Deportees launch into a brand new song. I didn’t catch the name of it, but by god (yes, I’m running out of superlatives and recycling them) it’s rocking. Massive chords and a none-too-shabby Keith Moon impersonation from Christy see to that.

Alas, time flies when you’re having fun and before long Adam K is crooning set closer “When The Roses Bloom Again”, a cover of a Woody Guthrie track with an interesting history.

Just three gigs in, and there’s already more than a whisper about Deportees being the best local band in years. On this showing, it won’t be long before they take that crown and run with it, leaving a marker way off in the distance. Fair play to them.

Thanks to aekido (www.weareaekido.co.uk) for use of the photo.