The Fakers have been on the scene for a few years now and have played on some seriously impressive bills and in some seriously impressive venues. Unsurprisingly during this time they have managed to gain more than a modest following. Whilst ostensibly clinging to their ‘Mod’ roots this is a band that is incredibly now, very loud, and with plenty of rock-n-roll strut that means you can’t ignore them even if you don’t like them.

But should we like them?

The only answer to this is “yes”, they put on the best show in town, whichever town they are playing in, and the more they get from the crowd the more they give back in performance. This is a band made up of a group of mates and this shines through on stage. Whilst they clearly have a band image, there isn’t a stylist in sight and one suspects that any attempt by label bosses to change their appearance for a photoshoot would fall on the deafest of deaf ears. The Fakers know who they are, and that’s one of the reasons we like them.

Between songs you may start to question whether they are a band or if Dave Marmion, the frontman, is honing his stand up routine, but then when the first chord of the next song drops you are very aware you’re present for a gig and a half. The Maze was largely filled with existing fans so many of The Fakers’ songs were sung straight back at them, which gave the event an air of returning conquerors. With songs as diverse in tone as the not-a-million-miles-away-from-pop ‘Falling for You’ to the intentionally provocative ‘Fritzl’ the songs largely operate in the darker shades of obsessive (even dangerous) love, late night regrets, and drinking your sorrows away swagger.

Finishing on their cover of Primal Scream’s ‘Swastika Eyes’ familiar fans may lament the absence of their own song ‘Jumped Up Lady’ but the impact that this cover has is undeniable. Anyone questioning their ability to deliver knock out performances cannot refute that they genuinely know how to play their instruments and how to put on a show. A complete gig experience which defines the irony that Radio 1 continues to miss them out on the playlist whilst claiming to be the most relevant music station.