The bubbling Liverpool scene has produced the weird (the Coral), the weirdly named (Hokum Clones) and the weirdly good (the Bandits). And then there are the movement's stout yeomen, the Crescent, who will probably be bigger than any of them. Their entire fan club has turned out and is backed up on the pavement, creating the impression of a band on the way up - though I'd wager most are just escaping the horrendous heat inside.
Oblivious to condensation streaming down the walls, the four Crescents play stolidly in leather jackets, like long-distance runners resigned to pain in the interest of the greater good. "This is the hottest place we've ever played," says the T-shirt seller, mopping his face with a shirt bearing the band's slogan, Two Dogs Fighting.
The music press are batting around the term "new Oasis", which denotes any northern guitar act that promotes pedestrian rock values, in this case with mournful Liverpudlian harmonies. (The Crescent's saving grace; why are they reserved for the last few songs?) But the Liam role is inadequately filled by 20-year-old Wayne Whitfield. Perhaps charisma will come with age, but for now, the diffident frontman, rooted to the floor by his mic, would be cast as Liam's roadie in the Oasis biopic. "New Stereophonics" would be more accurate, right down to their lack of sartorial style. It's enough that they lumber along like Geezer, Bloke, Lad and Ringo - couldn't they wear some distracting frock coats to make up for it?
Shape-throwing bassist Sean Longworth probably wouldn't be averse. The ball of lank-haired energy who propels the other three through everything from the raunchy Spinnin' Wheels to the semi-acoustic Another Day, he answers to the description "band character". The stage barely contains his striding basslines or his lunges toward the crowd, who press forward to acknowledge the Crescent's only passable example of star quality. It takes the pressure off Whitfield, at least, letting him get on with hitting the reedy top notes on the shimmery Streets of Tide.
On the basis that the public loves meat and potatoes, watch the Crescent rise.
· At the Zanzibar, Liverpool, tonight. Box office: 0151-707 0633.
