Ghostwood, Little Thief.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 24th June 2008.

Unbeknown to most of the folks of Bedford, Esquires was tonight taken over by a wild bunch of guitar toting Australians. GHOSTWOOD are a quartet from Sydney, N.S.W. who are at present are working, performing and living in London. They are currently here on a summer spree of playing various small venues around England, having recently visited Coventry, Hereford, Herts and Tunbridge Wells. They feature Gabriel (guitar, vocals), Paddy (guitar), Tom (bass) and James (drums).

This has to be one of the most hastily arranged Esquires gigs for many years. No website advance notice, no local newspaper coverage, just a few random poster dotted around the venue. What were promoters Strange Place Club hoping to achieve? Nobody realises there is a gig happening here this evening. A few devotees of support band Little Thief (who stepped in at the last minute to cover for absentees Guildean Gang) disappear as soon as their mates have performed. This leaves Ghostwood to appear in front of an empty room except for their small Australian entourage. It's both surreal and baffling, but as is the Aussie trait they take it in their stride. Shrugging their shoulders, quaffing a few 'tinnies', having a good laugh, they then proceed to put in a dynamic demonstration of psychedelic stoner music.

The youngsters open with the blistering "Blood in your Eyes". The atmosphere, although tainted by the lack of crowd presence, is transformed electrically by the tumultuous energy the band produce. "Red Version" and the equally charged "Robot with Clothes On" act as a build-up to "Untie my Shoelaces", which unleashes a sound which is taut with angst and anger that reverberates around a slightly 'Roses' tambourine world. As "Rest my Soul" slowly announces itself, Paddy swaps his guitar for a set of bongos, whilst Gabriel gives James a helping hand before this heady climax reaches a peak and the band depart. A tambourine is resting on the mic stand and slowly Ghostwood return for an impromptu drumming jam which brings to a close this enjoyable, if slightly bizarre, evening.

LITTLE THIEF seem a little overawed by the suddenness of a call up to play tonight. The emptiness is stark. They try to create an atmosphere which is difficult. Songs "Punch and Judy secretary" and "Got me anywhere" are played, but I sense this is a band very uncomfortable with the situation they had been dumped in!