Firetype, I Am Spy, Angels Standing By, Audio Video Disco.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 3rd October 2008.

It's always pleasing to see improvement in any young local band, and it's good to report that headliners FIRETYPE really did 'fire' this evening! Including a new member (drummer Will) could have destabilized them, but the quartet perform with confidence and a real 'savvy' to play and work the audience just perfectly. Their stage presentation is impressive and it showed a real togetherness. They announce prior to 'Don't Step Away' "that it's going to be epic!" and in the next four minutes demonstrate why! The emo world seems to be going through a bit of a lull at the moment, especially at the local grass roots level, but this band truly ignite it tonight. Almost as dazzling as their hairstyles. 'Annie go get your Gun' sees them wow with their guitar work while including a perfect knockout chorus. 'Forgive and not Forgotten' opens to some strange and 'wacky' guitar play that the boys openly revel in. The brand new 'Same Cover, Different Robot' is pure L.S.P., plus it gives all the youngster one last chance to dance the night away.

Support slots are occupied by three bands new to Esquires, but feature musicians who are perhaps a little more recognisable in other local bands. Late replacements, boy/girl quartet I AM SPY try some experimental compositions. They are at all times, to say the least, interesting!!

ANGELS STANDING BY are a forcibly funky acoustic quartet who are adept at swiftly switching the pace and tempo of their songs to invite plenty of satisfaction on their cohesive set tonight. The age of the band contrasts with most of the crowd attending, and at times it does them no favours as the young gig-goers seem to lose interest in these older, more sophisticated musicians. The set, to be fair, is a little on the lengthy side. Ten songs and not, shall we say, 'three minute pop tunes'. They are here, to quote vocalist and guitarist Steve "trying something new tonight". The bluesy 'Secret' gives way to 'Trouble', a brand new song which they say they only completed yesterday. There is with Angels Standing By an acoustic explosion occurring at every corner of their set. They cruise through, and I especially liked '10,000 times', such a divine and inspiring song. A band I would like to see again, but perhaps on a more like minded evening and a gig line-up that would evenly complement their laid back style.

AUDIO VIDEO DISCO offer sharp and snappy pop nuggets whose influence seems to derive from something along the lines of The Rifles etc. Pick of the bunch appeared to be 'Friday's Gone' which perpetuated a mischievous frenzy of styles. They even invite a mate on stage to rap an intro to one of their songs.