Famous bands' guitarists' side projects don't often amount to much. Pete Townshend's solo outings invited the question "Who?", while even Keith "human riff" Richards didn't roll without the Stones. But the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr may yet disprove the rule.
Arriving in near darkness, his much-discussed afro unmistakable in silhouette, he strides purposely up to the mic and says confidently: "Go!" The subsequent waterfalling guitars of In Transit defy anyone to ask him to stop. The son of Albert Hammond (who penned pop hits in the 70s), "Jr" has pop craftsmanship in his blood. The choruses soar in the right places, the twangy middle eights suggest a man who may well have relationships with his guitars.
We know all this from Hammond's work in the Strokes, however. The surprise here is that he's relegated himself from the position of lead guitarist. He penned those shimmering riffs for his recent Yours to Keep album, but has recruited another hairy axeman, Steve Schiltz, to play them. It's an odd move but means Jr can concentrate on his vocals, while the trusty guitar hangs around his neck to provide that prerequisite New York cool.
In song, Hammond has intriguingly swapped the Strokes' poise and pose for emotional songs with almost childlike beauty. His vocals are more frail and human than bandmate Julian Casablanca's, and have a yearning, plaintive quality that makes you want to listen to his tales of lost friendships and bizarre love rectangles. In some circles, hours may be spent debating whether a line such as: "These guys have all got problems/Sometimes it all seems to drag me down" is or isn't about the Strokes.
But it's no surprise that the coolest Stroke - who resembles a young Jimi Hendrix - makes a charismatic frontman. "Are you still with me?" he asks, and receives shrieks to the affirmative. Then he's off again, piling the band into 101, a heavenly cross between Hello's New York Groove and New Order's Love Vigilantes; and Blue Skies, which teasingly echoes the Beatles' Don't Let Me Down.
If it ever does go horribly wrong for the Strokes, Jr's future could start here. On the other hand, it's not remotely likely that the day job will want to give him up.
· At ABC, Glasgow, on Monday November 27 (box office: 0870 380 0017), then touring.
