A song written after a paper-cut cheekboned model (singer Justin Young went on a failed double date with Amanda Norgard). An album running just over 36 minutes long. Sell-out shows in London, thriving crowds at summer festivals (captured in a colourful variation of sepia and vintage snapshots in the world’s first instagram video, Wetsuit). After just one debut album and less than two years on the music scene, West London quartet: The Vaccines have proved their staying power; their songs are being played everywhere from TV shows to small hipster bars in the corners of England and they’ve already built up a massive cult following.

Their beginnings, although not small (their first demo tape garnered attention from top DJs such as Zane Lowe), are perhaps not as controversial as you’d expect – in 2010, four young musicians (including Freddie Cowan, younger brother of The Horrors’ Tom Cowan) got together and jammed. What resulted from that was What Did you Expect from The Vaccines?, a pure rock’n’roll album, with threads of 50s and 60s punk and pop reverberating through the 11 finely wrought tracks, one of which (Tiger Blood) was co-produced by Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes fame.

The title of their second release, Post Break-Up Sex, may seem try-hard and gimmicky, but, in fact, the track is piercingly truthful and relaxed. They’ve been nominated for Best Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards 2012 and fans include Marcus Mumford, Alex Kapranos, members of White Lies and The Maccabees, and their popularity is spreading like some kind of viral disease. Naturally – and we expect nothing but infectious vibes when they stop by Hong Kong.

Ysabelle Cheung 

The Vaccines play KITEC on February 11. Tickets: www.hkticketing.com