There are two common misconceptions about Doves and their live performances: Firstly, that their vocals outside of the studio don't cut the mustard, and secondly, that they lack character.

Both judgements were spectacularly blown into oblivion at last Wednesday's gig at Preston Guildhall.

These days a Doves gig isn't so much a music recital as a multi-sensory bombardment.

The Manchester three-piece appear to have invested heavily in lights and projected film that's several leagues above any A-list band.

And rather than being an irrelevant distraction - the combination of awesome visuals and the entrancing Doves sound sucks you in and spits you out the other side cleansed and enriched.

Jimi Goodwin's vocals were powerful, even beautiful and through a series of synthesized effects (showing off the band's dance music roots), they managed to make each song sound unique.

Rather than carbon copies of what you'd expect to hear listening to a Doves album, the songs were extended, chopped-up, messed around with and enhanced - an unmistakably live experience.

As for the band's character, Jimi constantly joked with the crowd - at one point playing a quick acoustic version of the BBC's snooker theme tune in homage to the Guildhall famously being the "home of snooker".

Like the twist at the end of a good movie, it'd be a shame to give too much away about the encore.

Suffice to say, few bands have such an innovative and down-right funny way of exiting and then returning to the stage.

The most mesmerising visuals were saved for the end. Here It Comes and There Goes The Fear played alongside footage of Northern Soul and Samba dancing respectively, while Jimi Goodwin and Andy Williams repeatedly swapped roles on drums and vocals.

Sometimes they were both on percussion, sometimes both singing. There was so much going on it was hard to keep track.

Doves are more than just a guitar band. A sublime performance.

Andrew Blackshire