Caught Live: Mudhoney + Unnatural Helpers @ Electric Ballroom, London

'The Sound of Seattle’ is one of those terms that grew to eventually cover a multitude of musical sins, but tonight we’ve a relatively rare chance to bear witness to its old-school originators, Mark Arm’s mighty Mudhoney.

First, though, the progeny: proof that the influence of the Seattle ‘90s underground remains as pervasive as ever comes in the shape of supporting noisemongers Unnatural Helpers, singer-drummer Dean Whitmore’s ever-revolving lineup of  the coffee capital’s modern-day finest. The band's defiantly retro Ramones Vs. Wipers sound may not be to all tastes, that’s for certain, but with ragged, driving tunes like ‘Sunshine/Pretty Girls’ and an already converted crowd clearly in thrall to their influences, they go down a storm – their bassist even returning for a spot of ill-conceived stagediving at the climax of Mudhoney’s set.

Mudhoney themselves have always been a tough sell. Despite their early credibility, accusations over a perceived lack of ideas and/or progress have often haunted them – and yet for all that, tonight's set reminds us why they are one of the few early ‘90s bands still vital right now. Unlike their nostalgia-reunion contemporaries, Arm and co. have never really stopped, or even slowed down. Yes, it’s the ancient blinders like ‘Touch Me I’m Sick’, the burning vitriol of ‘Suck You Dry’ and the almost unbearable sleaze of ‘Sweet Young Thing’ that light up the vibrant, wired crowd tonight, but more recent tracks like ‘Hard On For War’ - with its simple, direct lyrical attacks on modern bloodlust - and ‘The Lucky Ones’ - a sad summation of fellow Seattle scene luminaries - shine just as brightly.

Sure, it’s unreconstructed, it’s fast, it’s nasty, it’s pretty filthy and very physical – but rock 'n' roll really misses that kind of thing in these overly self-conscious, subgenre-driven days and it’s downright heartening to see a gang of malcontents like Mudhoney having bras and jeans tossed at them while they instigate pit fights and slam out brain-hammering tunes like it was ’91 all over again. Kind of puts the new generation of guitar bands, who seem scared to get their hands dirty, to shame.