The D4, Ok Go and The Caesars @ The Zodiac, 05/03/03

You have to feel sorry for The D4. The last time they played here they were overshadowed bu The Datsuns, who have gone on to playing to larger venues, while nothing much seemed to have progressed for The D4. So they are taking no chances this time, with much lesser known supports.

To start with, some Swedish outlook on this whole 'garage rock' thing. The Caesars could fit in in the 70s. Taking their influences less from the stadium rock sound of that era, they wer more interesting than carbon copies of the same band, but it's nothing that new.

Meanwhile OKGo cover the more silly end of the rock spectrum. It was refreshing to see a band who didn't look identical. In fact, due to the fact that from their appearance alone they all gave off their own character, they were more like a guitar version of the Village People (even the keyboard player had a handle-bar moustache). All fronted by a guy looking like Ben Kweller. Musically they were heading towards the geeky rock, a bit like Wheatus and Weezer. Overall the set lacked impact, but the silly posing bit certainly helped to warm us to them.

For impact The D4 showed how it was done. From the start it was a relentless barrage of noise. The drummer was doing his finest impression of Animal from the Muppets, while everyone's gaze was directed at the guitarist. In trying to prove how rawk he is, he ran all over the stage, jumped into the audience, but it felt like he was trying too hard. In contrast the bassist just stayed pretty motionless throughout the gig, and looked cool.


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