WILD rock band Enter Shikari shook the Alban Arena stage at their homecoming gig on Wednesday. A storm of trendy teenagers crammed into the Arena to see the Enter Shikari boys in action. It began with support performances from pop/rock band Saving Aimee

WILD rock band Enter Shikari shook the Alban Arena stage at their homecoming gig on Wednesday.

A storm of trendy teenagers crammed into the Arena to see the Enter Shikari boys in action. It began with support performances from pop/rock band Saving Aimee - also from St Albans - and hip hop star DJ Pdex. Both riled up the crowd for Enter Shikari's 9:30pm performance when lead singer Rou opened the show with a promise that the band were back and open for business.

The four-piece band - vocalist Rou Reynolds, drummer Rob Rolfe, bassist Chris Batten and guitarist Rory Clewlow - lit up the stage for more than an hour with an energetic blend of hardcore punk and drum and bass. The fastest of tracks, such as No Sssweat and Step Up, are the sort of songs mosh pits are made for, and it wasn't long before the Arena floor transformed into a hubbub of head bangers and crowd surfers.

Rou's lively vocals and constant appeals to the crowd - "I want to whip you up into a nice salty casserole", he said at one point - kept the fans jumping all night. The band also treated the crowd to a few new tracks.

Tom King, aged 16, a St Albans School pupil, considered it was one of the best gigs he'd ever been to. He said: "Enter Shikari were awesome and I'm completely knackered from the mosh pit."

Rory's thrashing guitar riffs also thrilled the audience and at one point the former Sandringham School pupil clambered on top of the amps to play to fans sitting in the balcony. Enter Shikari's unique mix of electronic and metal music kept dancers on their toes and it is no surprise that the group of 22-year-olds picked up the John Peel Award for musical innovation at the NME awards last year.

The colourful flashing lights were the final touch to a rock star event and it seemed as if Enter Shikari enjoyed the performance just as much as the fans did. And, with bassist Chris decked in a St Albans FC shirt and Rou donning the scarf, the band are clearly proud of their home roots.

Charlotte Morgan