Betaboy, The Night Code, Echo Lake, Wooden Casino.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 30th January 2010.

Normal service is resumed on level 2 this evening after the month long gap, which has given Pete the chance to redecorate the room and staircase. The resulting efforts are there for us all to see. A fresh coat of paint makes all the difference. Live band action photographs also now adorn the walls. A great and long overdue idea. It's a permanent reminder of the marvellous past memories we have enjoyed at our homely venue.

What of tonight's entertainment? Well, a well deserved headline slot is given to BETABOY, a young band who, after initial reservations, I have grown to warmly enjoy. This Ampthill / Flitwick based quartet have nailed their niche as an excitable guitar pop bundle of joy. The lofty position they hold tonight is handled with mature aplomb. It is a credit to them that their synth enhanced new wave is full of sonic goodness and catchy inventiveness. In fact, "Good Girl" is still, some twelve hours after their performance, reverberating constantly around my head! It's the one that is lyrically full of "Taking it Easy". From my vantage point, the boys appear to be having so much fun without the petty pretentiousness so common of their local peers, with a liberal sprinkling of "ay-oh's" amongst their songs. Betaboy proudly announce that their debut single "Another Day" is now available on iTunes. The crowd have certainly made their mind up as the mosh pit delivers it's first piece of serious action tonight. With their sweeping and lush intros, it contrasts with some, at times, quite deep and nasty basslines, as on "Not There". The varied ingredients of Betaboy are certainly plentiful and are seriously savoured this evening by this reviewer.

The three other bands this evening are new to Esquires and, I feel, met with varying degrees of success. A familiar face fronts THE NIGHT CODE, why it's Blaine! Say no more! This six piece create and mould together a mind-bendingly crazy cocktail of psychedelic post-punk fused with programmed indie rock. A pure and simple mix of say - Wire meets Black Grape meets The Killers! With some superior paranoid guitar rock, there is a dark euphoria as "Not Herself" begins somewhat scarily, before unravelling into a psychos paradise. This, of course, is a speciality subject for our loveable and always unpredictable frontman. He seems free to be his old self in this visually exciting band who gain from having a 'scratching DJ' on board. He comes in to his own on the intro to "Pawn". There is a slight 'madforit' vibe to this tune. The politically incorrectly titled "Bitches" features a barrage of shouting vocals. The driving and forceful "City Lights" we are told, is the first viewing of a future The Night Code single. This seems to be a band who will travel down various new sonic avenues and imbibe every new idea with full-on total relish.

A new band, but once again containing some familiar musicians, are ECHO LAKE. From Hitchin, Herts, they comprise Joe Henley, Dan Henley and Matt Oakman. A new project, this is only the fourth gig that the trio have played. What is instantly striking and innovative about them is that the three members rotate their roles during their set, taking turns to swap from bass to guitar to drums. The changes that occur after "Stranded" are seamless as the pop-punkers tackle my favourite song which is called "Floods". Despite the switching about, the set flows well. With excellent stage presence, they possess songs that over a period of time would, for me, become instantly recognisable. A interesting and enjoyable introduction to Echo Lake.

I may have been in a small minority, but unfortunately I found WOODEN CASINO more than a tad boring and repetitive. Taking their cue from eighties electro-wave mixed with a disturbing, but very distinctive, Eurobeat disco slant. This female fronted band seem to have their supporters who gorge their selves on the funky bass which adds to their propulsive electronic touch. However, for me, the set is best summed up by the vocalist's rather desperate and exasperated rant at the audience as she vehemently shouts, perhaps losing patience "Don't just stand there! Get involved!". At moments like this and with comments like that, I just wished I was a smoker and could disappear for five minutes!