The 4 Skins, Citizen Keyne, Overload, Vicious Rumours.

Lev 2. Esquires Bedford. 11th December 2010.

With Christmas fast approaching, Upbeat Promotions presented an 'Xmas Knees Up'. After their sold-out show here back in February, what better hosts to celebrate than oi legends THE 4 SKINS? Fronted by the irrepressible, and original, frontman Gary Hodges, it turns out to be more of the same. The party is loud and long. Tonight proves, yet again, that there is still a huge market and fan base for this genre of music. Casting an eye across the crowd, it appears that in the thirty years or so since its conception, this form of music has been handed down from generation to generation. Their seventy minute set is kept pretty much to the tried and trusted script that has served them so well since 1979.

It's glorious singalong oi. Their collection of songs, although written many years ago, are probably as relevant today as they were back in the day. "1984" spells out "Britain's in trouble, country's bled dry". "Yesterday's Hero" and "I don't Wanna Die" are, as a social commentary, inextricably linked. The "Brave New World" that The 4 Skins wrote about in the eighties has, for the ordinary working class person, sadly not materialised. As a treat to himself, Gary Hodges sings a cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize", complete with some appropriate "Oi!"s thown in for good measure. The original skinhead band cover the original skinhead band! Perhaps for the local Bedford attendees, one of the major talking points of The 4 Skins set is "Evil". With three of The Tendons in the room, whose version is better? Sorry Mr Hodges, but I feel that Jon and the boys just egde it! The marvellous "Clockwork Skinhead" makes the evening for me. It still sounds fresh.

The groundswell of bodies that pack level 2 almost suffocate each other. It really is oxygen restriction at Esquires tonight. It is proving to be a bristling sensation. Indeed, from the reaction from these worshipping fans you would be forgiven for thinking that they were the hottest new band in the world! The older punks may have less hair to groom now and the jowls may be somewhat saggy, but the body, fuelled by plenty of 'falling down water', is still moving and free from the drudgery of the forty hour week. They are still able to shout "We're not going to take this shit". "Wonderful World" sums up the streetwise ethos by singing "could have been a labourer or office clerk". It contrasts with "One Law For Them". It'a about those pesky troublemaking students who disrespected Britain's fallen heroes last week. Gary is not happy and vehemently says what he thinks about them to loud cheers. As the set draws to a close, "Chaos" sums up the evening. Seventy minutes of nostalgia, three deep at the bar and a professional show from start to finish.

Support begins with CITIZEN KEYNE, who are replacing Skingraft. They are as "Mental, Mental, Mental" as ever. John states, quite rightly, that fans should get off their arses and support live music every week, not just three days at the seaside. "Punk is an Attitude", "Punk not Fashion". With a blast at the chavs ("You've all got em"), "Bling Bling, Bling Bling", this is top entertainment. This band always have their finger on the pulse of twenty first century society. "Unity" sums it up. In "Stand together or the scene will die" John states "It's either this or the X factor"! Excellent.

It's been a few years since either I or Esquires have caught up with OVERLOAD. Cambridge based, thankfully they have not changed and are still a powerful and hard hitting street band. "Militia" opens, but the self-titled "Overload" excels. Their Italian frontman, with his skinny torso, rules the stage. I felt that their songs did not get the crowd recognition that they deserved, which was a shame. This 'snarly mob' frontman has spotted some strategically placed cameras. Ah yes, "CCTV"! Naturally, "Bad Copper" is their police anthem.
"Unemployment" seems a topic close to their collective thoughts and this sing even includes a brief ska infusion to denote it as different from the rest.

For VICIOUS RUMOURS, what could go wrong did go wrong! With passport troubles afflicting their no-show vocalist, this band made sure that the show went on for the many people who had travelled to see them. I hope they enjoyed it more than I did. I felt sorry for 'Tim' who had apparently driven 350 miles to see this! At least "Smashed" made it reasonably worthwhile.