The Silver Pill are a band in a quandry, Peaking early in a career is always a bad move, and the Pill did just that almost 2 years ago, when their self-released 'Dirt' was single of the year in some quarters, its rush of guitars and urgent vocals making for a mess of 3 pop choruses in one song. Needless to say, topping this isn't gonna be easy. Tonight, however, the band are on form, and unveiling some new material that may at least match their current zenith. Appealing to fans of post-grunge and good-ol'fashioned rock alike, their sound draws from Nirvana (or more accurately, their superior successors Done Lying Down) in the main but the set climaxes in a rather unnecessary flurry of noise which prompts one observer to mutter 'Hawkwind' before running for the exits. When the Pill work out where they're going, they'll get there.

Eska are another band who seemed to have lost their way somewhat. Everything seemed rosy for them - free publicity by virtue of Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite having once drummed for them, and the support of just about every indie celebrity in the land - many predicting their debut album would be the 'best of 1999'. Sadly, record company problems and who knows what else have delayed this and they've watched a host of bands - many gathered together on one bill at T in the Park - sounding remarkably like Eska. That's not to say that they're completely original, but their blend of mathematically precise rhythms and some honest pop sensiblities isn't exactly like any of the usual suspects cited in such cases - Slint, Karate, and Shellac are now taboo as descriptions. The band seem to have actually reduced their time signatures to something more accessible during their 'year out' - though you still couldn't dance to them - but Eska show tonight that they can actually write a song or two, when the guitar and rhythm section actually calm down a little. 2000 could be Eska's year.

Or could it be the young contenders of Life Without Buildings? Feted by the Session in Scotland, they've literally come from nowhere, sneaking out a couple of singles on Tugboat Records, and earned nothing but praise from most quarters. Perhaps it's the fact that they're so different from everything else in Scotland at present that makes them stand out in the crowd? Well, imagine The Fall - rumbling bass, skewed guitar, workmanline drums driving the two, and a singer that truly takes centre stage. Except that instead of a middle-aged git reading the lyrics from scrawled notes, it's Toyah! Bouncing like she's shadow-boxing Prince Naseem rather than fronting the Next Big Thing, Ms. Buildings doesn't stop, hop-skip-jumping like the Duracell Bunny on bad speed and yelping out incomprehensible lyrics. In fact, this somehow works, as what might have been Just Another Pop Group is something quite unusual and only older listeners will think that Claire Grogan's wee sister has finally entered showbiz. Once you've got away from the stageshow, you get used to the sound, and this is pretty good - either it grows on you, or the later 'Juno' and 'Fourteen Days' are genuine contenders. Closer 'New Town' proves that youmg upstarts can at times teach their elders a thing or two.