Melissa Auf der Maur has been either the luckiest or most patient bassist in rock. Leaping out of obscurity to play in the Fleetwood Mac-inspired second wave of Hole, she left in 1999 to go solo. But Billy Corgan persuaded her to join Smashing Pumpkins - her favourite band - for their final tour across South America. Now, after almost a decade of living in the largest of shadows, there's Auf Der Maur - the album and the band.

Striding on stage in a leather mini-skirt and sleeveless black top, Auf der Maur is a classy rock chick. "This is our first ever show," she says, excitedly. Actually it's their first headline show, and despite her protestations that it's too soon, her performance is assured. Thrusting back and forth, her red curls bouncing, she throws rock poses with the practised ease you'd expect from someone whose hobby is playing in a Black Sabbath tribute band. The music unsurprisingly adopts the Smashing Pumpkins' force and Hole's vulnerability. But a catchy chorus follows every chugging rhythm and twisting melody. The spiky shindig dance of I'll Be Anything You Want sounds like the Bangles, while few other rock anthems have the Black Beauty sound effects of Skin Receiver.

Having had help from famous friends, including Josh Homme, on her album, her band is anonymous. Guitarist Kim Prior is a picture of chain-smoking cool; Andrew Rodriguez plays sweet keyboard parts and slashing guitar chords.

But this is Auf der Maur's moment. Beast of Honor has her uh-hur-ing seductively, but she's a Left Bank-dwelling chanteuse on the lilting Overpower Thee, one leg on her PA, both hands caressing her microphone stand. A versatile force of nature, Auf Der Maur visibly wrestles with her desires, while basking in her very own spotlight.