91 Pieces, Minimal Damage, The Beautiful Sleazy, Penny Racer's Last Journey.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 23rd February 2008.

Kicking off proceedings tonight was another candidate for my most ridiculous band name seen at Esquires in 2008! They were called PENNY RACERS LAST JOURNEY (urgh). Luton based, this three piece do live up to their offbeat name by playing with boundless fun. They sing strange songs about nanny goats, adverts and monkeys which feature on "Astro monkey", the best of their average set.

Wow! Next come a band called THE BEAUTIFUL SLEAZY who proceed to play, quite simply, a staggering debut set. This St. Neots four piece have gigged up and down the country, and they appear to have honed their good time rock'n'roll to near perfection. Importantly, they match their musicianship by also looking the part. Comprising Dan Cahill (vocals), James Dove (bass), Sam Robertson (guitar), and Simon Whitworth (drums), their end product is somewhere between Kasabian and Primal Scream. The audience tonight is much younger than the band and I feel many do not really appreciate the standard that The Beautiful Sleazy achieve. Eventually the moshing begins and this band, new to Esquires, realise their achievement and raise the level even higher with their new found fans. The songs build slowly, stalking, grooving, before kicking up a brew of bourbon soaked bluesy rock. "All fired up" mirrors exactly that, while "Nothing to stop them" is brash and confidently performed. The band's last song is entitled "Love is a dirty drug", fitting because The Beautiful Sleazy have been a musical hallucinogenic sensation.

Following such a sweat-inducing band could be difficult, but MINIMAL DAMAGE handle it in their customary stride. 'The Damage' always seem to bring in a new song with them and tonight "Writers block" is aired. With a bit of a 'cock up' on "Law and order", this is a warm-up for their prestigious support slot to Bad Manners next Saturday.

A stage full of Union Jacks greet the arrival of 91 PIECES. This popular young local band have put a lot of time, dedication and hard work in preparation for their first headline slot. My only word of complaint is why did they play three covers? In the context of the evening these pale in comparison against their own material, which continues to be at the cutting edge of being a teenager in modern Britain. Take "Midland Road" for example, which is now establishing itself nicely amongst the other youth anthems the band have written. Always a very visual trio, they are now beginning to combine the musicianship as well. The timing is improving and vocalist James impresses as he spits out the lyrics as if he truly means it. Passion and anger, a superb controlled combination.