The term "rock veterans" usually refers to wrinkly musos coasting towards retirement, or the Rolling Stones; it could also apply to the Coral, but no one has told them. Because they started so young, after six years on the national scene, and a full 11 since their inception, they still have the aura of mischievous Scallydelic schoolboys. Singer James Skelly, at 26, the band's old man, is finally being troubled by facial fluff, while lead guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, a fresh-faced 23, can presumably still get away with paying half-fare on the bus.

Since their Mercury prize-nominated 2002 debut, the band have endured times that could easily have put years on anybody. Their third studio album The Invisible Invasion, from 2004, was a surprisingly dark affair and when Ryder-Jones upped and left, mentally exhausted through touring, Skelly told anyone would listen that the band were falling apart.

However, with the guitarist back in tow, they seem to be reconnecting with the simple joys of playing, romping through Love-style psychedelia, Spanish acoustic music, jagged grunge ... and that's just the first couple of numbers.

The core sound remains the same: an imaginary 1960s jukebox heard through a haze of what may not just be alcohol. Yet there is a tentative feel about this gig which underlines how long they have been away. The band are ridiculously tight, but Skelly seems too concerned with getting things right to fully immerse himself in the material.

Meanwhile, the crowd seem quiet, as if having to be reminded how good songs such as Dreaming of You, I Remember When and The Ballad of Simon Diamond are. There are plenty of old hits but, apart from the insubstantial single Who's Gonna Find Me, the new material easily holds its own and sounds more mature and emotional. Jacqueline, rollercoasting on Ryder-Jones's guitar, boasts one of their most beautiful melodies. In the Rain is the astonishing result of what sounds like an experiment to find out what would have happened if Jimi Hendrix had made a northern soul record. Most of the new songs are eerie, scarred and peculiarly entrancing ballads, and are more timeless than retro.

Although he doesn't say much all night, the way Skelly's rich baritone vocals gradually rise to the challenges of postmodern subjects such as love, loss, isolation and loneliness suggest that, as they approach something like maturity, Liverpool's youngest champions could thrill everyone again.

· At the Astoria, London (020-7344 0044), tonight. Then touring.

· This article was amended on Tuesday June 26 2007. The Coral's third album was called The Invisible Invasion, rather than The Incredible Invasion as we said above. This has been corrected.