Reviewed on 18th January 2006.

The Zar

Live at Joseph's Well on Saturday, 14th January 2006

Occasionally bands with edgy names proclaiming gritty sounds can sell themselves short, others should be seriously checked under the Trade Descriptions Act. Defiantly groaning onto the stage, The Heist unfortunately fall into the latter category, constantly failing to impassion the masses forming for a night of rock debauchery.

The struggle appears endless, only valiant attempts at violent fingering from Adam on lead guitar and the shallow aesthetics of a rather charming drummer detract from the feel of a sixties tribute band. The band's showboat anthem 'Rock and Roll Carries Me Home' furiously jerks into a punkier output, threatening to jumpstart your by now lifeless heart and it does certainly raise a murmur. But it all appears to be to no avail, the wheezing Dave Grohl vocals on show are also little distraction from an undermining lack of any stage presence and etiquette, with less chemistry on display than a drunken fumble with the big girl at school.

Dog City arrive in a cloud of curiosity, introduced to the crowd like a heavyweight champion entering the ring for a title shot, confidence is obviously an intrinsic element of their demeanour. Maybe they are suffering delusions of grandeur but they certainly know how to work a stagnant crowd into a foot-stomping frenzy. The intriguing quintet jostle for the spotlight, finally opting to stand in a line at the front of the stage rather than the staggered formation preferred by Premier League bands. Sorry I was having a Des Lynam moment there. But this burning desire to enthuse and enthrall does propel the simple jazzy breakdowns and pounding bass into your ears with an unexpected furiosity.

Begging to be loved, and abusing the crowd for their lack of motion consecutively seems to have paid off for their buoyantly haired frontman, and so the band crash through a catalogue of textbook pop tracks complete with Futureheads' inspired 'Oh, Oh', clichéd choruses. Whether or not Dog City will fulfill their self-proclaimed destiny rising from the shackles of the Leeds music scene into global stardom, hosts an easy answer. But if self-belief be the deciding factor, Dog City would probably be bigger than Jesus.

Now calmed and composed the Joseph's Well faithful readily welcome The Zar, who easily steal the show without ever really excelling. The destructive riffs and bleeding vocals of 'Swore my Love', immediately cast the band's inhibitions aside thus maintaining an adoring gaze from start to finish. The interplay between the two frontmen is performed to perfection, as their contrasting vocals instill a soothing lull before the rapturous storm which climaxes in every song.

With a sound that grabs you firmly by the scruff of the neck and drags you through the murky world of rock excess, The Zar won't struggle to hold the attention of bigger crowds. However with the charts crammed with similar sounding steely efforts from more interesting oddities such as The Subways, you could be forgiven for believing a life of shadow skulking gigs lie ahead.

A night of unexpected bouncy pop fun inducing speaker climbing antics from the easily excitable youth vote of the Well's crowd and a professional explosion of screaming vocals draws to a close, leaving a surprisingly sweet taste in the palate.