Mancunian four-piece PINS have played Brighton before – notably supporting Savages last year. It’s a point worth noting as the buzz radar was focused on the headliners then.

But where Savages are becoming notorious for their occasionally overbearing noir take on angular rock, PINS, though similar, are approachable by comparison. However, they lacked the nuances their music needed at The Hope.

Promoting their excellent Girls Like Us debut, the girls’ relative short lifespan as a band seemed more apparent under scrutiny. Plagued by feedback, it took the fizz of bassist Anna Donigan to win the audience round.

It was only when the four sang harmonies together that it felt PINS had any point of difference.

“Come forward, don’t be shy,” singer Faith Holgate urged the front row, but the feeling remained that PINS were misfiring slightly, somehow not connecting, a point which the chasm before them only amplified.

While Holgate is a compelling frontwoman, her lyrics left a lot to be desired and, ultimately, the best moments came from the acts of unity – particularly in closer Girls Like Us, which built to a sharp cut-off before the band ran off to their merch stall.