Friday 13/02/04 The Zutons, Dogs Die in Hot Cars @ Academy 2, Liverpool

The Eighties have got a lot to answer for.  Both good and bad.  It’s weird that for a decade that was so reviled in the nineties, a love for Duran Duran and Dexy’s is now de rigeur.

Is a rock out of the question?

It would seem it is with Dogs Die in Hot Cars.  Sure, they go about their set with gusto and lead singer Craig Macintosh does a cracking Kevin Rowland impression…but that’s just it.  They’re 80’s impressionists.  Well, rag concert impressionists. For where their forerunners were undoubtedly celtic soul brothers, DDiHC are their younger siblings sat in the sixth form common room, smugly thinking they know it all.  At times they do, as debut single “I Love You Cause I Have To” shows, but then “I Love Lucy” pisses on their bonfire big time.  They're worth a look, though…if only for a short while.

As for Señor McCabe and his gang of mucked-up miscreants The Zutons – what the ****?!  Have I been living under a rock for the last year?  Probably.  Weren’t these psycho-billy/bluegrass madness, hollerin’ about working on the railroads a minute ago?  They were always better than the Coral, y’know more ideas an’tha’, but they obviously thought high time for a change – and them winds have deffo been a’blowin’ , la. Speaking of whom, **** me! Lord Lee of Mavers is even in the audience (with John Power! Reformation, kids!) (Note to whippersnappers – them who did ‘There She Goes’ – off the going places advert, but not with the bird singing it) 

Anyway it’s rapturous, it's homecoming hero worship. They slip straight into something comfortable, ‘Zuton Fever’ and can do no wrong. Well for a while, anyway. Next single ‘You Will, You Won’t’ will hopefully cement their long-overdue status as band-to-be-taken-seriously, if only for featuring a gorgeous primal howl from Dave. Whilst 'Pressure Point' is obviously a ludicrously catchy a-woo-hoo-hoo-wonder.  BUT! And this is a tiny but, after a while the magic starts to fade – so when ‘Zutonkahmunn’ roles around, it’s high time to go home.

Photos by Paul Stevenson