The band, still going after 30 years, had recently undergone yet another line up change, but as Smith himself once famously stated, "if it's me and my granny on bongos, it's still the Fall".

But, at twenty past ten and no sign of the band, the rumours circulating the marquee that Mr Smith was either asleep, or still in the back bar of Lavery's were gaining credence as fears that there was going to be another Belfast no- show were gaining momentum.

However, at 10.30 after a dramatic extended intro track and the excitement at fever pitch the four piece back up, including Norwegian wife Eleni (Smiths third) appeared, eventually followed by Mark E, and the band's first Belfast gig since 2001 was under way.

Smith (51) seemed the worse for wear, but his group's latest incarnation found it's feet and the new album Imperial Wax Solvent was given the full treatment with Is this new and Wolf kidult man kicking things off.

Crowd pleasers like Mr Pharmacist and White lightening were thrown in for good measure, as an electrifying second half highlighted the evening.

The hour long set was well received by a boisterous, but good humoured crowd as the band returned for a thunderous encore with Mark taking over from Eleni on keyboards for Pacifying Joint and Blindness.

Fan Bill Clarke from Downpatrick who was in the Empire in 1997, when the Fall famously didn't play after Smith had a fallout with his then band said: "Having been disappointed back then, it was great to eventually see them."

Local artist Colin Davis who has seen them three times added: "They seemed a bit pedestrian earlier on, but towards the end they were rocking. Best yet"

However, not everyone was happy as fan of their earlier material Daniel Dewsbury described them now as a "soulless cover band", but as John Peel once famously said, "with Mark E Smith you're never quite sure what you're gonna get."

A great night.