Heartless Bastards

The four-piece from Ohio are often-compared to that state’s Black Keys but judging by tonight’s show they have a long way to go to replicate that group’s success. Things began well with a grungey Americana opener and the classic rock power chord numbers that followed but a mid-set slowing of the pace veered off into 4 Non Blondes AOR territory, that lost the already fidgety audience. Punter apathy partly spoiled a fine slow-burning country song before lead singer Erika Wennerstrom returned to electric guitar for a crowd-pleasing finale of heavier, older material that showed they can rock, albeit derivatively.

Green Door Store, 10 September 2013

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