Defiance @ Ohio

Beginning with Petty Problems – "In Columbus they were shopping on the first day, the first official day of the war / It's so easy being oblivious, and it's easy being self-absorbed", Defiance, Ohio tackle the difficulties and contradictions of modern life and western society. Instruments like the banjo, cello and harmonica add colour to the energetic, noisy mix, while the vocals, shared between the six of them, can be unashamedly off-key. Their introductions to the songs ramble at times, but that's part of what makes the band endearing (although the faux pas of describing Scotland as part of England does not escape the attention of the otherwise devoted audience). Sure, the band's sound is flawed occasionally, but somehow this only adds to the enjoyment factor: it's a bunch of real people up there, who favour making accessible, meaningful music above creating an overly polished product.
The end result makes for a refreshing change from the standard gig scene. [Nine]