Iain Archer, Paul Steel, Windout, Terry Emm.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 15th September 2006.

Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Tonight with three acoustic acts on show it was never going to be too lively on stage but at the end of this overlong evening I had almost lost the will to live.

Local youngster TERRY EMM starts the show with his plaintive songs. He certainly paints a studious picture with his spectacles and long dark hair, and his intensity is fully portrayed in his second tune, the beautifully sung 'Dove'. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and a bottle of water, his intricate and textural set ends with 'Summer', a track about a glorious memory - much like his set. St Neots band WINDOUT appear for their Esquires debut. Opener 'Broadwalk' immediately finds favour, which gives me a good vibe about the rest of their set. They don't disappoint as the initially slow burning 'Along this Line' develops into something sumptuous.

Acoustic artist PAUL STEEL greets us with a cheery "I'm from Brighton!" and sits astride his stool, fingers poised over his trusty keyboard. Shaggy haired, bearded and with a fearsome 'Spirit of the Beast' t-shirt, he informs us that he is currently recording a Pop Symphony, of which tonight we receive part 3. For the following song, 'Worst Day' he straps on a guitar and strums away. Paul demonstrated his vocal gymnastics for the light-hearted 'Honkin (on my Crackpipe), and his banter throughout is warm and humorous as he tells the sparse crowd that he considers Bedford 'a cool place' and promises to return with his full band.

It is disappointing that there are so few people here when headliner IAIN ARCHER arrives but as he starts his set at a quarter past eleven, it is hardly surprising. Currently on tour to support his forthcoming 'Magnetic North' CD, this former Snow Patrol member seems at times to be disinterested, although to be fair that is perhaps understandable considering the stark lack of atmosphere in the room. He is partnered by his keyboard player but this painful set will be swiftly forgotten by this reviewer.