When a band's own publicity material describes 10 years of albums with phrases such as "overproduced", "overlooked" and "fails to capture the essence of the band", you have to wonder. The underlying message, I suppose, is that this Leicester four-piece have only now begun to realise their full promise.

Reviews for their latest album, HIP Replacement, have been better than ever. But this band was once tipped as the next big thing and never quite made it. Diesel Park West may thrive on a "no one likes us, we don't care" manifesto but that can't be much good for paying the rent.

Friday night in the middle of London and there are barely 100 people here to see them. In keeping with Diesel Park West's anti-fashion stance, singer-songwriter John Butler wears a denim jacket and looks like your local pub's resident dungeons-and-dragons bore.

Their ragged, bluesy rock is driven by rock-solid, muscular rhythms, grungey riffs and piercing solos. It tips its hat to blues, country and West Coast rockers, but it's a sound that's more pub rock than stadium filler. There are moments: the guitar solos soaring impressively on Like Princes Do, for instance. But like their name - presumably intended to evoke Americana though reminiscent of a service station in Essex - Diesel Park West is unconvincing. "I think we're the best, actually," says Butler, as a final four-chord riff shudders to a damp climax.

• At Milton Keynes Theatre (01908 606090) on Friday, and touring.