• The Dandy Warhols and Dark Horses
  • O2 Academy Oxford

In 2000, the last time The Dandy Warhols were in town, they were about to go stratospheric with the aid of a certain mobile phone network provider. Fast forward 14 years and the effortlessly cool Dandys are back promoting their first ever live album Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia Live at the Wonder.

The first thing evident tonight is the diverse fan base the Dandys have established. From rockers attracted by their psychedelic debut album, to phone-inspired indie kids lured by the top five charting re-issue of Bohemian like You, their appeal is wide ranging.

Before the Dandys strode on to the stage, last Wednesday, support act Brighton's Dark Horses run them close in the 'cool' stakes. Promoting their second album Hail Lucid State out next month, the leather-clad quartet have already toured with the likes of Kasabian and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

The layered build-up of their swaggering debut single Alone, and the swirling synth sounds of Traps stand out from the art-rockers 2012's debut album Black Music. The punchy and raw stomp of new single Live on Hunger and slow burning Radio leave the audience wanting more.

For all the Dandys' efforts tonight, something doesn't quite flow. There is no walk-on music as they take the stage and the house lights are still on as they strike the first chords of opener Be-In. Whether it’s because it’s the end of their UK tour, there seems to be no energy or spark to the sure fire pop hits of We Used to be Friends or Not if you were the Last Junkie on Earth. The Dandys seem to be going through the motions.

It’s not until set highlight Ride when they connect with the audience. An extended version from their debut 1995 album Dandy's Rule, OK? is drenched in feedback as guitarist Peter Holmström's sonic sounds hypnotise the audience.

The chart-friendly, pop-tinged sounds of 2009's You Were the Last High from The Dandy Warhols are Sound album shows the other extreme to the Dandys' sound, and the contrast works somehow. Keys player Zia McCabe's boundless energy help carry the band through a career spanning set drawing from their nine studio albums.

Former Adam and the Ant bassist Chris Constantinou joins the Dandys to plays flute on a stomping version of '(Tony, This Song Is Called) Lou Weed' before they unleash a trio of hits from Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia.

Bohemian like You and Get Off get the crowd pogo-ing, but it’s the mesmerising version of Godless, a blend of psychedelic pop which stands out reminding the audience of their last visit to the city.

After this, set closer Boys Better should be riotous but it sounds lethargic and jumbled, again showing the two sides to their performance. The Dandy's may rule, but tonight they are just okay.