They may have taken their name from a place where Cuban revolutionaries used to meet, but Maxïmo Park is not a band of equals.

With only two albums and a handful of hits to their name, it's the Geordie rockers' reputation as a fantastic live act that has allowed them to headline Brixton Academy for three nights running but without the showmanship of frontman Paul Smith they would be struggling.

Dressed in sharp suit, red tie and trademark bowler hat on Saturday night, he was immediately the focus among his band of rather ordinary-looking jeans-and-T-shirt musicians.

Whether he was jumping from the gargantuan speakers on the side of the stage, or thrusting the mic stand into the air à la Freddie Mercury, the irrepressible Smith displayed the kind of charisma that makes you fall in love.

Gyrating and thrusting will get you so far in popular music (just ask Britney Spears) but eventually people need lyrics. Luckily, the songs from Maxïmo Park' s albums A Certain Trigger and Our Earthly Pleasures are packed with pleasing phrases and poignant thoughts. "I am young and I am lost," sang Smith during set opener The Coast is Always Changing, drawing parallels to fellow malcontent Morrissey.

The rest of the band did eventually wake up. During the post-punk clamour of their recent single, Our Velocity, guitarist Duncan Lloyd even found the energy to join Smith atop the drum platform.

It was a rare showing of willingness from a band that rely too heavily on the boundless energy of their leader.