Horseman Shakes and the Drayman, Rogue Radio, The Van Cleef, Re-Writing Destiny, Verity Sessions.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 3rd January 2009.

The first gig at Esquires this year hopefully bodes well, as a real mix of musical styles were on display. I am immediately smitten by young acoustic diva VERITY SESSIONS. Tall, angular, with a shock of long fair hair kept under wraps by a black bowler hat. She has a gentle but fluid style of playing. Her songs are more mature and a lot less mainstream in substance than a good few of her peers who have performed here recently. It's certainly enjoyable, and this leftfield approach is only interrupted by a Kings Of Leon cover that the crowd can instantly latch on to. It's a chance for Verity to rock out as she vehemently taps her guitar at its close. The rest are all self-penned, of which I particularly enjoyed 'This Time Last Year'. The lyrics are deeply ironic as Verity sings "My eyes are burning from the sleep I haven't had". Verity might be saying this with more feeling tonight as she is suffering with a very heavy cold. She takes sips of water between songs to stop her from "coughing my guts up"! She has us all doe-eyed as her vocals and guitar gently bleed, especially on the haunting 'This Summers Ours' and the closing "More Than This'. Superb.

Continuing the female slant are the punky RE-WRITING DESTINY who feature Katie (vocals, guitar), Becca (drums, backing vocals) and Charlotte (bass, backing vocals). They have been together since October 2007 and compose all their own material. This is their Esquires debut, but have an appearance at The Pitz, MK to their credit. Their slightly early nervousness is banished on 'You're The One'. The youngsters really crank it up again on the following 'Not The Same'. As a unit they play very tightly, but perhaps they just need to move around a bit to fully emphasize the powerful music they are projecting. Otherwise it's an impressive beginning and a return visit is to be anticipated.

Luton's THE VAN CLEEF seem to be the right band on the wrong night! A post-punk quartet something akin to Joy Division meet The Stooges on downers, plus a front man who makes Eddie Argos look static!! Except for their travelling support, most people attending look a little shell shocked at the sets end. The oscillating oddness is acute and the lyrics offer the same jarring discordant uneasiness throughout. Gloriously out of sync with everything else on show. They have, with 'My Name Escapes' and the newer composition 'Now we're Dancing', the perfect example of this experimental punk mix.

ROGUE RADIO return once again with a plethora of sounds. A couple of guitarists and a drummer are complemented by the bubbling electronics of a scratching DJ and a sharp as a tack rapping vocalist. They offer plenty of vim and vigour as the overriding ska-punk sounds are stretched endlessly by the musical permutations that Rogue Radio emanate! It results in a virtual party on stage . Once again, Ampthill and Flitwick folks rally to support their mates in force which only adds to the pulsating atmosphere. 'Lady Luck' and 'Jenny', with its lyrical repetition of "Jenny was a Dreamer", impress. It's a pity that, sadly, there are no Jennys in the house tonight! The ridiculously fast paced 'I know this Lad' gets all the crowd moving. As the set draws to it's conclusion, Rogue Radio urge everyone to 'Come a Little Closer'. This is without doubt the fans' favourite as, complete with an armoury of sounds, there is the faint impression of what seems to be a siren constantly wailing in the background.

Sandy five piece HORSEMAN SHAKES AND THE DRAYMEN are the pure potent blues rockers to end the evening with. A rich amalgam, as these boys send us on a late Saturday night journey through a set totally designed to blow fuses and minds alike. The inimitable Alex takes his accustomed spot in lead singer limelight, although on the closing 'Draymens Jostle', he eschews this position to let the three guitarists take the glory, especially with their blistering jamming outro. The blues roots combo take things down a touch with 'Rivalry'. Also 'Trigger' is a more funky offering as the band show their total all-round flexibility.