"I'M really sick, and the doctor just told me not to play tonight. I told him where to go - but I'm going to need your help, Southampton."

And help Frank Turner out the crowd at Southampton Guildhall did, chanting back every heartfelt word.

Despite a slightly strained voice, the self-styled Winchester boy followed this opening plea with a kinetic set.

Nicely thawed out by an eclectic set from support act Ed Harcourt, and an eccentrically dressed trombonist, we were ready to hear the 28-year-old's special brand of tunes about close-knit friends, love and quiet rebellion.

Sprinkled amongst the well known tracks were new material, including A Song to Bob Dylan - an all-time hero.

Thank goodness he doesn't listen to medics, because it proved the perfect antidote to a frosty December.

Biggest hits Long Live the Queen, The Road and The Ballad of Me and My Friends took the night towards its crescendo, with Frank confessing that he'd wanted to play on this stage since attending a gig at just 14.

Photosynthesis, with its cries of "And I won't sit down, and I won't shup up. And most of all I will not grow up," just about summed up the Turner philosophy, and we were sent out into the cold to the life-affirming Reasons Not To Be an Idiot.

Frank's mum was watching, so I just hope she made sure he took a Lemsip afterwards.