Bowfinger, Full Circle, Portion.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 11th August 2006.

Solid and dependable. These are the two words that spring to mind when describing tonight's acts. Three bands that include musicians that perhaps are more mature in age than the norm, but thankfully for us they don't act it.

The first in this menagerie of reliability is PORTION - fronted of course by Blaine, the undisputed master of fervid mayhem. The set this evening very much sums up the spirit of the night and familiar songs take a back seat to the vocal and physical gymnastics of their rubber jointed Iggy Pop clone. I always think that Blaine has missed his true vocation as a human cannonball. At least tonight he leaves the lighting rigging alone, although he does spectacularly fall backwards onto the stage at the end of the warmly received 'Easy', whilst 'Speedball' is once again a real highlight.

FULL CIRCLE have played the 'Sunday Sessions' down in Danny's Bar on a number of occasions, but generally their sets relied solely on covers. Tonight, after they were a revelation on their debut Level 2 Performance back in April, they return to play more of their own compositions. Although I felt initially they appeared to be a little phased by the change in their surroundings, they soon settled into their usual easy going groove. The three piece play a fine collection of mainly 'Adult Oriented Rock' of which 'In a Time' stands out, while slower song 'Everyone' deserves special mention. They also possess one of the most skilful and beguiling drummers on the local music scene - a total craftsman.

So to Luton's BOWFINGER, who need no introduction, and I can best describe them as the Status Quo of the pop-punk world. In all the years they have been together, nothing really alters - the same feel good, happy go lucky tunes, the precision stage act all smoothed and rounded into perfection. It would probably be accurate to say that with their classic anthem 'Everything is Easy', Esquires has it's song of the decade (steady on! - Ed). It's a song that they have never bettered and once again it is the highlight of an entertaining set.