Little Thief, Policy, String Theory, Rosalita.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 5th April 2008.

With due respect to the keen efforts of the three other bands performing tonight, this gig will be remembered for the superlative set offered by ROSALITA. A five-piece from Ipswich, Suffolk featuring Kris Andrew (vocals), Richard Tyler (guitar), Jay Goodrich (bass), John Randall (drums), and Ben Groom (keyboards). They are an indie band with a welter of different sounds and, no, Bruce Springsteen doesn't feature on the set list!

After getting together in May 2005, these school and college friends played all the local venues before reaching a Norfolk band competition. This led them to winning Virgin's "Road to V" competition, and saw them opening last years V Festival. After gigging extensively last year (including Esquires last October), 2008 has seen them being recommended by their local radio station to record tracks for Radio 1 at the famous Maida Vale studios.

Tonight their small video camera is perched at the rear of the room recording their performance. The boys announce their arrival as they start with "Hadleigh" (surely not a penchant for an old television programme - over forties only!!). As they get their breath back between songs, Kris is adamant that he is not going to remove his shades. He admits that he is "feeling shit today"! Rosalita then perform their double A-sided single "Don't Ask" and "What Would Your Mother Say?" due for release on May 5th. I did try to buy a copy, but the band soon scarpered after their set! Loosely their sound is early Automatic, all the more so for Ben's keyboard skills which usher in "Bedtime". "Phew, that took a lot of effort!" Kris breathlessly tells us. Mind you, he has removed his shades as the band perform last year's single "Manga Girl", which includes such a sumptuous riff. It makes it easier to forgive Rosalita for such a poor finish. The song is called "Art Attack" and features such an annoying sickly sweet chorus which is best forgotten.

Of the young local bands performing, it's nice to see STRING THEORY again. Their Esquires baptism was in Danny's Bar, bizarrely supporting a biker band from Kettering! Their mix of blues rock belies their age. The audience participation on "Lack of words" is strong, while "The Happy Song" certainly is!

POLICY, with a slight change of personnel since their last visit, play with a more grown-up attitude. The older, almost discarded, "Keeping Your Hair On" is pure Bluetones, while the fast and furious "Scene of the Crime" cements everything together. More of the same please Policy!

LITTLE THIEF seem to be celebrating someone's birthday as balloons litter the stage. Following Rosalita did seem to lessen their impact, but they have enough good tunes and their fans turn up in force to ensure that the party atmosphere is there in abundance.