Monday 28/05/07 Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, The Scare @ Barfly, Liverpool

Having read a considerable amount of press on The Scare before tonight’s gig and taking into consideration they have just finished touring with the all conquering Gallows we had braced ourselves for something a bit special when the five Aussies took to the stage. What we get is a sub standard Datsuns with the occasional death scream. Perhaps it was an off night as the band are infinitely better on record but tonight The Scare suck, even the glam stomp of ‘Bats! Bats! Bats!’ fails to get feet tapping.

Singer Kiss Reid ends the set in the middle of the crowd on his face, some would say unique others would say desperate. Lesson learnt, don’t believe what you read (Apart from on Gigwise).

Rising Lazarus like from the flames of ramshackle riot boys Les Incompetents are Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man. The room is heaving with literally pairs of people and when not watching the band they are looking at a certain celebrity OELM fan, yes Miss Peaches Geldof is in attendance (Famous for wearingclothes
AND going out apparently). We shouldn’t judge people on their friends though as OELM are a brilliant live band.

Theatrical, dark and funny the band boast pop noir with wit and deadly one liners (“His suit was better cut than one of Fred West’s victims” ‘I Am The Future’). ‘A Matter Of Timing’ with its blitz of guitars and break neck vocal delivery harks back to Fred’s old band whereas ‘Stories We Told’ is a much slower, atmospheric affair.

The highlight of tonight’s show however is the set closer ‘Farm’ which switches tempo at the drop of a hat going from Nick Cave style death march to a skiffle barn dance hoe down. It sounds ridiculous, and it is, ridiculous but brilliant.