The Stylistics

For Seventies' suede-heads and soul boys, The Stylistics were one of the best falsetto-led vocal groups, ranking with the likes of The Delfonics and singers such as Eddie Kendricks. With songs written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and sung to angelic-like perfection by Russell Thompkins, the smooth sound of the group washed over the populace of America and Europe in wave after luxurious wave.

What the audience witnessed on Tuesday night, the first of a five-night run at Dublin's newest music venue (easy on the eye but poor on the ear), was a mixture of high camp, bad suits, schlock horror and quite a few classic pop/soul songs. It's a measure of the quality of most of the songs that The Stylistics were able to transcend the full-on cabaret atmosphere of both gig and venue. The hits, as they say, just kept on cominatcha: Rockin'Roll Baby, You Are Everything, I'm Stone In Love With You, Betcha By Golly Wow and (this one dedicated to all the ladieees in the audience) You Make Me Feel Brand New.

In between the classic hits, however, were lulls that not even the rich and creamy cheese on offer could override. A selection of Philadelphia (oops, more cheese!) soul hits from the likes of The O'Jays were displayed, as were the unnecessary but mercifully brief band solos. Then came the inevitable medley of hits.

Operating in something of a limbo state with regard to the current pop climate - an irony, considering they carved out an onstage blueprint rifled wholesale by most boy bands you care to name - the appeal of The Stylistics lies not so much in their longevity but in their obvious graciousness in the face of potential embarrassment. If you care to disregard the boring bits, you should have a ball.

Until next Saturday. Credit card bookings: 01-4569569.