Celebration brought their good times to New York on one of the last nights of their latest US tour. Singer Katrina Ford oozed a sassy confidence, jiving away in her red heels, while the rest of the stage was a conveyor belt of dancing guests.

Her confidence matched a great voice that was remarkable in its variety and power. At times she sounded like Morrissey (hence the frequent comparisons to The Smiths) and at others she offered a higher pitch akin to Beth Gibbons of Portishead. She switched her notes and strength of delivery within songs and between songs - more often than a guerrilla army changes its tactics. The result was a riveting performance, her vocals keeping us on our toes, while her movement was a pleasure to watch. Too many vocalists nowadays stand still, head down, hand anchored to the mic. But not Ford.

Tonight Celebration were joined by five guests and a heavy dose of percussion. David Bergander was great on the drums, while depth was added by two bongos, a random drum cymbal, and Ford's tambourine ever-present at her side - so much so she must be nursing a bruised hip now. Added to the mix was a three-strong horn section which lent a New Orleans jazzy brass band feel to the proceedings. They played with energy and with folks filing in and out it really did feel like there was a party going on, while all the instrument swapping made me scan the stage for the bowl of car keys.

Holy Fuck warmed the stage for Celebration and displayed a similar energy. I only caught the last two songs of their set but their electronic jams were enough to make we want to check them out again.

The band's five interchanging guests led to a certain chaos on stage. The result could have been a shambles, but was instead we got a fast-changing, always interesting set-up. With a name like Celebration, you had better bring a party, and these guys do. Many bands employ a gimmicky moniker for attention, but with their funky soul sound ‘Celebration’ fits. Something of a mix between The Brazilian Girls and My Brightest Diamond, their music is definitely danceable – by the end they even had New York's hipsters grooving along ten deep, to the extent I was worried that guy in the red t-shirt at the front was going to get whiplash.

Celebration is the latest band from husband and wife duo Sean Antanaitis and Ford, and they're building a name fast. With the Bowery Ballroom almost full that much was obvious. If the temperature inside was anything to go by, this band is HOT. I don't know how Ford survived under the lights in a thick-looking dress and tights, the rest of us were suffering.

Celebration have their performance locked down tight. They closed with older number ‘Holiday’ (heeding the calls of the die-hards) and an extended disco vibe that featured the crowd on even more percussion - maracas, tambourines and all manner of hand held rattling things were handed out to the more energetic at the front. It was a good touch - I'm all for audience participation and rewarding those concert-goers who get down and dirty unselfconsciously, like we did when we were kids. Good times.

Photo: Rob Chapman