Failsafe, The River Club, Kneival Genius.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2. Friday 3rd March 2006.

Tonight, Hairgel joined forces with 'Deck Cheese Records' to bring us a night of punk and hardcore.

With an album under their belt entitled 'What We Are Today', Preston's Failsafe are the headliners. With a predominantly post-hardcore sound, FAILSAFE exert maximum effort on stage and display an impressive amount of craftsmanship. The lads certainly seem to know how to complement each others styles. Having travelled down from a gig in Newcastle, they open with 'Trying to Mend What is Left of Me'. Frontman James Norris is engaging, but his opinion on everything always seemed to feature the word 'Mint' - it must be a Northern thing!
The tracks 'Actions for Answers' and 'Cut to The Chase' are highlights of their enjoyable 30 minute set. Failsafe now travel on to a gig in Weston-Super-Mare before they end the tour at the Camden Underworld.

Touring with Failsafe are THE RIVER CLUB, another post-hardcore band but one that employ two keyboards on stage. With this in mind, naming a song 'Escape from Keyboard City' could be seen as inviting cheap jibes but fortunately the track is excellent - full of passion and featuring a spirited chorus of 'If only I was so sure, if only I was so damn sure'.

Opening tonight's show were local lads KNIEVAL GENIUS. The boys swagger onto stage with happy grins plastered on their faces and it is pleasing to note that they have tightened up enormously since their previous gig here. Displaying good old rock'n'roll combined with filthy industrial beats and powerhouse rhythms , they shout and shower vitriol which all adds to a beautifully wilful noise. 'Cloak and Dagger' pounds along and impresses immensely, as does 'Sound Asleep'.