On another evening I could have fallen in love. A lack of enthusiasm on my part deriving from tiredness and lack of alcohol leads to a certain amount of annoyance (or jealousy I can’t decide) concerning the enjoyment of the rest of the audience. This grievous error shouldn’t detract from Oxes in any way, they batter and bruise their way through forty minutes of a noise that can only be described as Shellac being dry humped by the Bronx.

Appearing as a three piece but with the constant wandering of guitarist’s Nettarino Fowler and Marco Mirror it would seem they were simply a drummer playing to a particularly furious backing tape. While the focus remained mostly forward, at any point a rogue shadow appearing against the back wall with a guitar lurching dangerously over the balcony would detract from Han Sum pounding incessantly in at attempt, it can only be presumed, to destroy his kit. In the most innovative idea since Lightning Bolt first assembled their kit in the audience, Oxes stand around and chat mid set presumably talking about songs but for all I know this could be discussing what they had for tea. I prefer the latter option. After returning to normal functions, Oxes blast through a cover of what I can only assume is an old country song although it may have been MC Hammer for how much I can decipher. The audience swells onto the stage and what follows is a number of people who appear very uncomfortable at the front of the stage attempting to dance under the focus of far too many glaring eyes. Uncomfortable is right and along with entertaining and brilliant are three words that encapsulate Oxes performance, one that will not be quickly forgotten.

Review by Barry Bennett

www.monitorrecords.com