WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — "We're cool, we're different," Fiction Plane's Joe Sumner sang at Tuesday's kickoff of the MTV You Hear It First Tour, unknowingly providing the perfect description of the outing.

And judging by the performances, the bands on the House of Blues bill, which also included Kenna and the Exies, are certainly different — from each other and from the flavors currently controlling rock radio. Adding to the uniqueness of the rock edition of the tour (Bubba Sparxxx and Common are headlining an urban version) is that there's not yet a legitimate hit between the three acts.

Fiction Plane opened their set channeling heavy Nirvana influences into a decidedly British rock foundation — like Bush, but with the garage rock wail and curious coolness of the Strokes.

After opening with the title track to their debut, Everything Will Never Be OK, the foursome put a surprisingly romantic twist on the cynical "Hate."

Frontman Joe Sumner makes nothing of being Sting's son (see "Fiction Plane Sulk, Sneer And Mope — Who The Heck Is Sting?"), but it's hard to forget live. Even the way he frames his mouth around the microphone with his hands at his sides is reminiscent of his dad. And when he melodically sings intense lines other artists would scream, it recalls one of the charms of the Police's more rocking tunes.

  "Kenna Leaves The Shadows Of Fred Durst, Neptunes For His Own Spotlight".

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