Live Review
Scars On Broadway – Manchester Academy 2
When two members of a highly rated group branch out on their own it can be a risky business. Yet Daron and John of System of a Down seem itching to get back to basics with their stripped down new musical venture.
First however we have the formality of the support act to contend with.
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster arrives onstage unassumingly enough. When they kick into gear however their psycho-billy trash punk racket is anything but unassuming.
Swaggering and drenched in sweat Singer Guy McKnight is the unhinged belligerent nephew of Nick Cave and their music stomps all over the place like an army of hookers in a knocking shop.
While the rest of the band provide a backdrop of sleazy and debauchery it is McKnight who steals the show shrieking and gunning one minute and strolling amongst the audience the next and with numbers like the powerful “Charge The Guns” and filth rock anthem “Celebrate Your Mother” your left dribbling like a pervert in an Amsterdam window.
Scars on Broadway may be somewhat handicapped by the reputation of their founder members former act however their anthemic choruses and vocal harmonies are right up there with the quality of their former output.
Daron Makalan’s wide eyed beardy weirdness makes for compelling viewing and some superb hooks most notably on “Chemicals” and first single “They Say” show that Scars are more than just a rick musos vanity project.
Further more the enthusiasm of bassist Dominic and Guitar player Frankie shines even above their tight musicianship showing that they can prove themselves to be more than just hired hands.
Musically S.O.B. isn’t world apart from System but when you have a bunch of catchy riffs and bags of charm to spare then who the hell cares.
They may not be a revolution but they make for one hell of a party.