Loz Jones, The Horns, Watford, Monday, June 23

My last trip to Luton, some six years ago, saw me verbally abused, threatened with violence, called a homosexual, and (eventually) chased onto a London-bound train.

Ordinarily I’d be pretty loath to return. So it’s a great credit to six-piece funk outfit Loz Jones that, thanks to a superb Monday night performance at the Horns, I might well be tempted back.

Making light of the unusually quiet Hempstead Road venue the four guys and two girls did more than enough to shake me from my post-weekend malaise and paste a ear-to-ear (rather gormless looking) grin across my face.

After a thorough, typically tight, warm-up from Ross O’Reilly, the guys threw all but the kitchen sink at, what proved to be, a memorable debut at the Horns.

I hope they will be back.

An instantly likable bunch, their irresistibly catchy brand of toe-tapping funk/rock was enough to make me forget my dislike for their home town and credit them for what they are: a top drawer act you really ought to see – even if it means a trip to Luton. (boooo).

Expect catchy tunes, laugh aloud lyrics and musicianship sharp enough to pick your teeth with it.

A personal highlight was their rib-tickling, toe-tappig ode to Watford’s nightlife, She Glows in the Dark – a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the extraordinary number of young “trollops”, daubed head to toe in fake tan, lapping up the innumerous student night promotions at the top of town.” .

Loz Jones are: Loz (of course: fantastic, gravel voice and on-stage swagger), Lucy, Natalie, Stuart, Rob, and Keith. Their debut album, Spoiling it for Everyone, will be out in September. I snaffled a preview copy after the gig. It’s in my car. It’s jolly good.

See for yourselves at www.lozjones.com