8PM – THE CHECKS The road from the squeaky-clean world of the Barbershop quartet to the gravel-throated, primal howl of the blues is perhaps one less travelled, but it's what has led scarily-young Auckland five-piece The Checks to the precipice of success in 2007. Having bagged a record deal during their short stint in England, they relocated to Kilburn in 2006 and got straight down to recording their debut album with Ian Broudie (The Coral, The Zutons, Echo The Bunneymen). The result is one of the great debut records of the year, a spit n' sawdust rock n' roll record that’s bursting at the seams with songs to send you bare-chested and wild. 2007 has seen the band spread the word on 5 UK tours with the likes of Jet and The Hold Steady. $15 DOORSALES ONLY
