Having their cake and eating it

Not to be confused with the obscure, short-lived, John Peel-endorsed all-female rock trio from the "60s, Cake is a Californian all-male alternative group, which has been defining the term "geek rock" for the last decade and a half.

Whether it"s the quirky and often sarcastic content of their songs, or the dry, rap-like monotone of lead vocalist and guitarist John McCrea, Cake possess many of the qualities the average slacker is looking for in an alternative to the, er, alternative. This sort of fanbase has lead to comparisons with bands such as The Dead Milkmen, They Might Be Giants and Camper Van Beethoven.

Formed in 1992, Cake soon built up a healthy cult following on the Californian live circuit, frequently playing the intimate Blue Lamp venue in their hometown of Sacramento, a city that has produced a number of world famous bands including the Deftones, Blackalicious and Jimmy Smith, a jazz legend dubbed "King of the Hammond B-3 organ".

The city's live scene remains healthy today, and