Free food, free drinks, free band ... hey, this contest stuff is pretty cool -- unless you happen to be the band.

Vancouver's Odds kicked off their Canadian tour in support of their latest LP, Nest, with a pair of shows at Barrymore's this week. Last night's get-together was open to the public, but Monday's gig was a radio station-brewery-sponsored performance for contest winners.

The losers, though, were the four musicians, who had their work cut out for them, performing for a crowd that could kindly be described as listless, seemingly more intent on redeeming their complimentary drink tickets than digging Odds.

But audience indifference inspired the group to dig in and deliver a fired-up set of their sweetly-rendered pop.

Fresh off an American tour, the foursome kicked off with a bracing version of Truth Untold, which swells to a glorious chorus and should be required listening for aspiring pop composers everywhere. Ditto It Falls Apart and Someone Who's Cool. Playing at Metallica-volume did little to enhance the subtlety of their music, though.

An acoustic set began promisingly with Roy Orbison's Only The Lonely, but was too much for the crowd, which threatened to drown the band out with idle chatter.

Towards the end, guitarist Steven Drake challenged the crowd to show up the American crowds they had recently been entertaining. "Show us something we've never seen before," guitarist Craig Northey piped in before crashing in to Eat My Brain. It worked.

There were scattered outbreaks of dancing and one female patron responded by hurling a bra stageward.

Now that's enthusiasm.

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5