IT'S always a joy to see John Otway.

The guy's a survivor and still going strong as a solo performer, having had a top ten hit in 2002 with Bunsen Burner.

Otway has made a living over the past 31 years on the back of being a failed pop star, and as anyone will tell you, in order to be that bad you have to be good.

Otway is every bit as brilliant and he's teamed up temporarily with his old mucker, Wild Willy Barrett.

The duo made two wonderful and memorable LPs in the late 1970s until Barrett, a serious musician, could stand no more of Otway's on-stage craziness and split in 1982.

This, their official reunion (until they fall out again), combined Barrett's blues musicianship and bluegrass tinge with Otway's brilliant poetry.

A tremendous 20-number, 90- minute set included their classic chart hits from 1977, Beware of the Flowers (Cause I'm Sure They're Going To Get You, Yeh) and Really Free, and the quality and depth of the set was stunning.

A full house, rapturous applause and another insane but highly memorable gig. Brilliant!