THE cult band who provided the theme tune for the ultimate TV mafia show The Sopranos are a peculiar thrill.

The lead singer hails from Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, but speaks in a cod deep South drawl as befits his on-stage parodic Baptist minister persona Larry Love.

Every now and again he couldn't help lapsing into South Walian, just to show he was back home, mun.

He and fellow frontman the Rev D Wayne Love sported huge, sparkly crucifixes and looked like cut-price Catholic priests, big on chintz, cheesy smiles and charm.

But on this - the first show of the band's latest tour - the thrills were a while in coming.

The first half was lacklustre despite featuring early single Mansion on the Hill. It could maybe have a featured another song from the marvellous first album Exile on Coldharbour Lane to provide extra early oomph.

The eight-strong band lacked visible energy and confidence - usually their strong suits.

That changed halfway through. Woke Up This Morning - The Sopranos theme tune that half the planet has heard - finally woke us, the band, the venue, up. Suddenly everyone seemed alive. Almost as if they needed their best-known tune as a pick-me-up.

From that moment it was uphill all the way as the rumbling bluesy groove took hold and the band visibly relaxed.

Encores were an acoustic-backed ballad and a rousing Mao Tse Tung Said - a storming juggernaut of funk that was a perfect reminder of why, live, the band are a powerful draw.

Alabama 3 can and often do better than this but they're always worthwhile.