WITH the 80s musical revival still very much wrapped in its shell-suit and tripping over the laces of its Nikes to get to the next La Roux gig, we dance to Goat Patrol. The three-piece band, not part of the Animal Collective nor are label stable-mates of

WITH the 80s musical revival still very much wrapped in its shell-suit and tripping over the laces of its Nikes to get to the next La Roux gig, we dance to Goat Patrol.

The three-piece band, not part of the Animal Collective nor are label stable-mates of the New Young Pony Club, donned their neon sweatbands, fluorescent shoes and 'Goaty Says Relax...' T-shirts to entertain for charity.

In fact, the group which includes this paper's very own chief sub-editor Ciaran McGrath on bass raised more than �1,000 for children's charity NSPCC while kick-starting the Easter weekend at Neon club night at West End club The Phoenix on Thursday.

Punters unwinding for the long weekend were treated to a raucous rendition of Soft Cell's Tainted Love, a cheer-raising version of Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence and a moving Tears for Fears' Mad World.

Lead singer Andy Levett had made a slight recovery from laryngitis earlier in the week and struggled to hit some of his notes throughout the night but this didn't deter the dancers.

With other classic rock and pop tunes, including The Clash's London Calling, sung by keyboard player Scott Simpson, helping fill the dancefloor, it was also easy to forget a very off-key 80s version of the Beatles' Come Together.

It later transpired that a lack of lighting on the stage was making it nigh-on impossible for the band to see what they were playing with, Ciaran using a bicycle light as a torch for the second half. Very DIY.

All in all, a great night which saw a large crowd swinging glow sticks, singing along to the Monster Mash and wearing glow-in-the-dark glasses... and was great for the kids. Literally.

Darren Rackham