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Perhaps as a result of the smaller venue, but also thanks to considerably more advance publicity, the crowd was considerably more tightly packed for Sixteen Horsepower's second visit of 2000 to London than it had been a couple of months earlier. With personal space in such short supply, and the band in especially cathartic mood, the band mesmerized the packed room.

When they arrived in London, Sixteen Horsepower was drawing to the end of a lengthy European tour supporting their recently released third album Secret South. The experience showed as the five-piece band (including young violinist Elin Palmer) ripped through a stronger set than on their previous visit, taking tracks from all of their studio releases and filling the darkened Borderline with their unique sound.

In a live setting, that sound regains the rough edge which was partly rubbed away on Secret South. Edwards's passion and intensity filters through the apocalyptic country sounds, seizing the listener and not letting go for well over an hour. You get the feeling that wearing his heart on his sleeve isn't enough for Edwards, he wants to force it into your hands, whatever state it may be in.

Sixteen Horsepower make great albums. But they more than match them live and it's the small venues which really bring that home. Be sure to see them soon, if things continue the way they're going (at least in Europe) these cozy clubs may soon be a thing of the past.