Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck, Jess Morgan, Josh Hedley.

Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. 10th November 2009.

A quiet revolution has been occurring in Bedford these past few months under the passionate umbrella of Bedford Live. Acoustic artists have been fully free to express themselves and not seen merely as a curtain raiser. Tonight in Danny's Bar, Bedford Live under the auspices of Jez Brown presented, all the way from Nashville, EILEEN ROSE AND THE HOLY WRECK. It turns out to be a special night. Although they have appeared in Bedford before, this is their first visit to Esquires. The entry is free. but donations are naturally encouraged for our prestigious guests. The visit coincides with the release of Eileen's new album "Luna turista". It's her fifth and follows her critically acclaimed "At our tables" from 2008. Petite with long brown hair, she is warm and friendly for the whole of the eighty minute set. She intersperses some short (and at times amusing) anecdotes amongst the songs. The Holy Wreck feature Rich Gilbert (guitar, pedal steel), Nate 86 Stalfa (drums) and Josh Hedley (fiddle, guitar). It is truly amazing to see the legendary Rich Gilbert playing in our bar. Wow! Renowned for his work with Frank Black (Pixies) And The Catholics plus Tanya Donnelly and Throwing Muses. It shows you can take the man out of the punk scene, but you can't take the punk out of the man. Now his long love of country and roots has fully taken over. However, his manic guitar skills at various intervals ensures my gaze is firmly fixed on him. So should anyone else with a love of guitar playing. He is equally adept at the pedal steel, an instrument rarely seen at Esquires (if ever!). Eileen admits that it causes them problems when they are on tour. When it is boxed up and moved through customs, it shows up as a bomb! "Try explaining that to a 22 year old Sardinian airport official" she says with a rueful smile. It's something they have got used to. Weary, tonight sees them at the end of their extensive five week European tour that has taken in so many countries, including four shows in one day on a memorable trip to Germany. Farcically, it ended with Eileen getting locked in a dressing room and having to jump out of a window to perform the gig! The band all now reside in Nashville. In fact Eileen calls them "total Yanks" except for Josh who's from Florida or "God's waiting room" as she says with a cheeky grin!

They include selections from the new album which was recorded in both Nashville and Berlin. "We though we would be a bit like Bowie" she joked. Tracks played tonight include "Why am I awake", which zips with a real twang thanks to Rich's pedal steel. Also, the Eileen/Josh duet "Luckenbach Texas" made famous by Waylon Jennings. The lyrics stand out, they sing with feeling "Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love". Eileen is not adverse to a little name dropping as she tells a story about meeting Jack White. It precedes their version of "Hotel Yorba". As the evening draws to a close, both band and crowd are beginning to tire (remember this was supposed to be a rest day for the band), it appears that the booze was certainly talking! A splendid evening by some talented and, above all, lovely people. Hopefully they thought the same of us.

Support slots are taken firstly by JESS MORGAN. A young twentysomething acoustic lady. Although from Norwich, courtesy of Bedford Live, she has already built up quite a following in Bedford. On her Esquires debut she performs a short set full of easy going charm. With her long sandy coloured hair and Welsh heritage, she begins with "Well dressed fellas". It's jaunty as she gets to the point "They are rotten to the core". The mood darkens slightly as firstly the reflective "Workhouse" is followed by a sweet ballad called "Crosses". A short tale about Pamela Anderson is followed by her last song, naturally called "Pamela".

Although part of The Holy Wreck (at least for this tour), JOSH HEDLEY performs a solo acoustic set. Downing a double whisky prior to announcing himself, this bushy bearded, burly tattooed gentleman plays a selection of songs that he hopes "people can relate to". "Sweet Mary" and "Green eyes" are the pick from a man whose natural character and warmth bring every song alive. There is a smell of bourbon throughout!