POP MUSIC REVIEW : Swervedriver Negotiates Old Territory

Ever since teased hair and spandex died with the ‘80s, it’s been a favorite pastime of college-rock fans at the Troubadour to make fun of the huge portraits of washed-up glam-metal bands on the club’s walls. Swervedriver fans did just that Wednesday during the British quartet’s set, but the group they came to see was playing music just as derivative as that of some generic metal band. The only difference: Its sound was spawned by white noise masters the Jesus and Mary Chain rather than Motley Crue.

Singer-guitarist Adam Franklin howled flat notes that couldn’t capture the charm of off-key crooners like Neil Young or J Mascis. Instead, he sounded like a garbled cross between Elvis Costello, Kurt Cobain and Scooby Doo. Tangled messes of feedback never took shape, leaving the packed audience confused and swaying in scattered directions. Riled-up punk-rock songs attempted to pump energy into the dragging set, but they seemed gratuitous, proving just as unengaging.

Swervedriver seemed to scream, “Hey, look, we’re cutting edge!” but came off sounding and looking like a mock alternative band for a B-movie club scene.