Fifth Quarter, Robbie Miller.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 25th August 2007.

With the summer finally arriving (!), what better way to while away a warm evening than to take in some scorching blues-rock with FIFTH QUARTER. I think it's fair to say that there are few young local bands who consistently appeal to such a wide-ranging age group. The generation gap does not apply to this band. The reverence that Fifth Quarter has gleaned during the past 2 1/2 years is thoroughly deserved as it is a musical path that few of their fellow age group has taken.
Tonight they are appearing with a different guitarist since the last time I saw them, but the performance certainly doesn't suffer as the sound of this blues-rock trio reverberates around the bar. The set is predominantly driven by covers, artists ranging from Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan, of which the boys play a superb version of 'Pride and Joy'. The vocals, as always, are taken care of by Ben, but even the instrumental songs seem to have a spiritual voice of their own! Many of the folks in tonight are Sunday afternoon sessions regulars, in which the blues sound forms such an integral part. Fifth Quarter end with a blistering version of Cream's classic sixties song 'Crossroads'. The applause is long, loud and well-deserved. The bands next Esquires visit is for the S.W.M.T.F. evening on level 2. Be early and don't miss them.

The covers theme this evening started with ROBBIE MILLER who entertained, especially with his version of 'The Joker' and a rarely heard Steve Earle cover.