Bleech, Automatic Audio, Shabby Tinkerz, Wooden Casino.

Lev 1. Esquires Bedford. 10th September 2010.

Level 2 reopened it's doors tonight and what sights and sounds there are to greet us. Returning to Esquires are London trio BLEECH. After creating such an impression in August 2009 with their Roar Club visit, Jennifer, Katherine and Matt are back. They don't disappoint and fully enhance their reputation as a must-see live band. At present, Bleech are recording and working their way to completing their debut album. It will certainly be interesting to see how they can capture their free-flowing live spirit on to disc.

They touchingly begin with "The Worthing Song". When they last appeared here, it coincided with it's release as a single. The lyrics very much sum up the feelgood nature of the band. "I'm on top of the world" they shout. The nine song set (including an encore) contains short sharp nuggets. Each composition is tightly constructed and 'fat free' as the next. In a music business that is fast becoming disjointed and fragmented, thank heavens for Bleech who admirably tick all the appropriate boxes. Hopefully hard work and a heavy gigging schedule will pay off long term.

The pace never slackens as Brit style beats meet stacks of grungy attitude. It's a sumptuous blend of angular sub pop with these gloriously howling belles! The sparkling "I Wanna Be Me" fires on every cylinder, while "Get Up" has a no-nonsense, kick-ass rock 'n' roll edge. Portraying a cool, classy demeanour, Bleech simply ooze confidence, excitement and energy. It's a thirty plus minute, sonically immense rollercoaster of awesome proportions and always soaring sky high.

Bleech set list:
• 1. The Worthing Song, • 2. Dancing Without You, • 3. Get Up, • 4. Holiday, • 5. Are You Listening?, • 6. Here I am, • 7. I Wanna Be Ee, • 8. Is it true that boys don't cry?, • 9. Taking Over (encore).

The support this evening gains from the reappearance of long time level 2 character Blaine. Known, of course, from Portion, he has been flitting from band to band in the last couple of years. Hopefully, with new charges AUTOMATIC AUDIO, he has finally found what he has been looking for! His three colleagues play on, almost oblivious to Blaine's on and off stage performance! Fraught, taut and dangerous, he has gone back to basics. Automatic Audio offer a fusion of good time rock 'n' roll with a few extra ingredients. It suits their front man perfectly as, frustrated by the lack of space on stage, he jumps theatrically down into a group of startled people! His gaunt and wiry frame shows all the hallmarks of a man who has just walked away from Satan's rack! His determination to swing on the lighting rig is sated. He tells of his colourful past which adds to the good overall first impression of this band. "The Longest Day" and, especially, "Control" take my ear. The latter has a rather dark and forbidding opening before churning and gathering to a wild and hectic pace.

The two other bands on show require only the briefest mention. THE SHABBY TINKERZ are from Luton. They are a large collective who ply a motley brand of ska. Their limited novelty soon wears thin. For this reviewer they are best forgotten, as are WOODEN CASINO, a female fronted five piece from Hitchin. Emo vocals allied to an eighties euro-pop sound - the result is fairly shocking, and at best laughable!