It is a truth less than universally acknowledged that the opening act is the best part of any gig. I had been informed quite to the contrary that no one wants to read about the opening act, but Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.'s Cambridge show left me somewhat smugly confirmed in my belief.

I walked in to find an endearing American with a guitar singing about his lost bicycle, realising, as he segued into 'Used for Glue', that this particular endearing American was none other than Walter Schriefels, lead singer of high school heroes, Rival Schools. (Should your high school experience not have included Rival Schools, I suggest you rectify the mistake while still under the academic umbrella.)

Moving on from my incredulous, elated smugness to that of others: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. It is only the cynic in me that pauses to wonder whether Sam Duckworth's ethical concern borders on self-righteous preaching but I can't allow cynicism in any case; our society could do with more voices like Duckworth's, in more ways than one. With the ethos of a political folk-singer, but with an indie style more accessible to the younger members of the audience, Get Cape's message is above all one of respect. Global corporations that rely on underpaid child labour, paying attention to the world and people around you: materialist values are addressed in between songs and in videos accompanying each track. He becomes evangelical about the dangers of denying the existence of racism, the 'ignorant profiteering' of Channel 4 in the case of Big Brother, but he is also capable of joyful optimism.

The message and passion behind the songs make them all the more poignant, though, this is perhaps overlooking the principal fact that they are beautiful songs, and with the live addition of a strong sax and trumpet, they're vibrant, energising songs. Whether or not everyone would agree with Get Cape's brand of individual empowerment, his live show left few dissenters. This is one brand to which I'm a happy convert.

Four Stars

Kiera Jamison