Blondelle, The Perfect Crime, Citizen Keyne, Counterfeit.

Esquires Bedford. Friday 25th November 2005.

Reviewed by Martin Stapleton / Pictures by Suzy Cook

Tonight's gig saw the return of three bands who have been well received here at Esquires in the last few weeks.

COUNTERFEIT continued to make a good impression with a fine selection of Emo / Punk / Indie tunes. The song 'Something New' really stood out and they slowed the pace right down with their cover of Coldplay's 'Fix You'. An ace set which their loyal band of followers really lapped up.

Playing to a different kind of audience (ie, very much younger!) did not deter Milton Keynes CITIZEN KEYNE who play punk in the good old fashioned way. I felt sorry for the boys as technical problems marred their excellent set. However, John and the gang carried on regardless, opening their set with 'Lies' and its very cynical look at life. The track 'Chaos pretty much summed up their set im more ways than one. The old boys even kept their young audience happy with a sparkling cover of 'American Idiot'. But John, I didn't know Sid Vicious used to play centre forward!

The return of post-hardcore band THE PERFECT CRIME was, to put it midly, a rich treat for me tonight, having impressed everyone immensely on their last visit. Once again their set is professional performed and this three piece from St Neots don't pose and preen, they just play a solid set of tunes of which tonight, 'Blessing' and 'Shaped Like' are a treat to my ears.

Headlining tonight (and despite having appearing to have the manager from Hell and he paced menacingly around a sadly sparse venue) were the effeminately named BLONDELLE. What we got were four young 'pretty boys' from London - one of them even wore a suit! They had next to no charisma and just thrashed out a quick punkish set which owed more than a touch to fellow London band Dogs, only without the attitude. I have to confess I enjoyed their set and at this point in the career they could, with a slice of luck, be a band to look out for. Then again, perhaps the punters who left before the end had the right idea.