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"We are a slightly different band now," confesses lead singer and songwriter Garth Barnes, referring not just to the changed line-up, but to the older and more mature attitude that now seems to pervade then band.
"We are not kids anymore and although we still have a good party-feel to us, we like to think that we have matured into more than just a pop-punk outfit. Our music is more mature now, because we are more mature and that should be evident to people who see us playing live."
The concert was a very festive event with the guys showcasing their new songs, while at the same time paying enough attention to their older hits to ensure that the established fans were kept happy.
Numbers like "Birthday Card", "Buy the World" and "House Party" all featured, and the fact that the gig was taking place in the heart of London's South Africa friendly South West - Putney - was evident from the number of fans who were able to sing along.
New guitarist Dylan Belton fitted perfectly into the space vacated by Mike Stott who decided to quit the band when they moved to London. Something of an unknown quantity before the gig, Belton brought with him a good reputation, despite never having played with a major act before.
So with little more than a month in London behind them, and with a first gig now under their belts, how are Tweak enjoying their stay in England's capital?
"It is fun, but it is a far cry from South Africa, where we were well known and had a whole network of people supporting us. Here we have nothing. No contacts or management and no income from our music. We are working in awful office jobs during the day and practicing at night," says Brendan, Garth's younger brother and the band's drummer.
"It's the way it has got to be if we want to make it. Our main reason for coming here is to try and crack the international stage, and somehow the horrible day jobs are bearable because we know that in the evenings we will be playing and working towards making our dream a reality."
With gigs scheduled for Amsterdam later in the month and a year-end tour in South Africa things are definitely looking good for Tweak. "We've got a lot to offer Europe and we've got the will to make it happen- just because you aren't seeing us out and about in South Africa right now, doesn't mean we've gone away," concludes Garth, "you'll be hearing from us soon..."
- Anthony Pascoe
