My Awesome Compilation. Portion, The Tempest, Drift, The Tease, Last Man Standing.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2. 17th December 2005.

The Hairgel boys threw their Christmas Party tonight with fancy dress the order of the day. A splendid array of weird and wonderful outfits were spotted - amongst the people assembled were an Oil Rich Sheikh, a Gothic Father Christmas resplendent in obligatory black, a 1920's Gangster complete with his Moll, Batman, Fred Flintstone, Little Red Riding Hood, Ali G and inevitable Policeman and Policewoman armed with truncheons. In keeping with the theme of the night all the bands played in costume and special mention must be made to members of The Return who, although not playing, came along to the evening bringing their Ostriches with them!

LAST MAN STANDING (or should I say a bunch of Pirates) appeared first and played a skankin' set of tunes which all their fans at the front appreciate as they hoisted their swords high into the air.

Milton Keynes based DESPERATE CYCLE demonstrate their own brand of aggressive anthems. They launch their set with 'Life Without Freedom', but see their progress interrupted by a broken drum pedal. This does not seem to dent the boys spirit as 'Fuel Your Fire' powers along. The outspoken 'Brand New Riot' precedes 'Young and Wasted' which includes full-on crowd participation.

Father Christmas and all his little helpers then came on stage. However, they looked suspiciously like THE TEASE. The boys carried on where they left off a few weeks ago and produced a cracking twenty minute set. Tommy had a major struggle to keep hold of his suit as he went through his impressive visual routine, sweat dripping off him. Their seven song set covered both Rock and Indie-Dance in a confident and assured manner.

DRIFT were fronted by a dodgy second hand car dealer (well that's how he appeared to me!). However, I'm afraid their standard range of bluesy pub-rock songs failed to excite me.

When a Surgeon, A Pilot and a Smooth Crooner from the Vegas circuit get together it can only mean one thing - THE TEMPEST are on stage to play for us! A good set ensued with rich melody shining through most of their songs.

To the stains of 'Singing in the Rain' the next band offer us a little bit of the old ultra violence as the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange hit the stage - thirty minutes of PORTION mayhem is now underway! Their lead singer told us that he was going to be a little bit more reserved in his between song banter due to a bad experience at their last gig here. However, they way all the lads were dressed tonight you wouldn't want to argue with Portion (especially if Beethoven's Ninth was playing in the background!).

It was back to those crazy, crazy, crazy nights as Gene Simmons and the gang were brought back to the stage tonight for one night only. MY AWESOME COMPILATION recreate the look, the feel and the between song banter of the legendary rocking hellraisers Kiss. A fantastic tongue in cheek set that the crowd really appreciate on a totally fun night.