Dictators - Dingwalls, London, 5/4/2011

by Neil Palmer

published: 20 / 3 / 2011

At a support gig to the Dum Dum Girls at Dingwalls in London, Neil Palmer finds rising Manchester band Mazes' blend of DIY late 70's British punk and 90's American slacker pop intoxicating

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Jack Cooper, lead singer and guitarist with Mazes, started last night's show with a stoop. From where I was standing he looked the spitting image of the Facebook 'f' logo. Head bent down and forward, his elongated neck at almost 90° to his body, and his guitar held high against his stick like frame, the silhouette was complete. Perhaps he hadn't fully recovered from the night before, perhaps it was nerves, there was a sizeable audience in front of him, whatever, the head stayed down and, albeit for the first two songs only and certainly unintentionally, Cooper became the Facebook logo personified. Ironically, as Cooper straightened and the 'f' image faded, Mazes started to show the promise bestowed upon them. The UK's more astute pop watchers have been heaping praise upon the band for a while now, and not without reason. Mazes play an intoxicating blend of DIY late 70's British punk, and 90's American slacker pop, with some gut-busting, dance inducing riffs and real tunes. There were moments last night when Mazes' combination of two guitars, bass'n'drums and Cooper's well crafted song-writing took us to a pop nirvana. It's just a shame the audience, mainly there for head-liner's The Dum Dum Girls, and worryingly populated with a more than usual quota of apparently single middle aged men, mostly failed to feel the force Mazes projected. Oh the woes of the support band. Never mind, Mazes, you won't be there for long.