Look See Proof, Optimism, The Runners, The Guildean Gang.

27th January 2007.

Reviewed by Graham Albans (www.myspace.com/tvkicks) / Photographs by Liam Scarlino (www.liamscarlinoonline.com)

It’s the morning after the night before and people are already circulating MySpace bulletins about how good their night at Esquires has been. With the tickets selling out before the day even begins, it promises to deliver a most excellent night of indie rock and roll that Bedford has been needing.

The 250 strong crowd are hardly even aware of the floppy-haired presence of opening band, THE GUILDEAN GANG, as they take to the stage, but the striking multi-layered vocals command their attention from the start. Sauntering and jangling through their set of Mystery Jets-meets-The Holloways easy indie pop, there is an air of The Strokes’ ‘stand and deliver’ style of performance. There is plenty of room for audience participation during the songs, but if there was any doubt it is dispelled by set closer ‘London Road’ which has the crowd packed to the front, singing, pointing and bouncing along like Ricky Wilson has just walked on stage. One day this band are going to make a nice little pop record, so get listening on www.myspace.com/guildeangang.

THE RUNNERS are clearly a band who know the meaning of riotous rock and roll! Already sweating from the previous band, the crowd royally go nuts to match the energy on stage. But this isn’t a pit of angst-y moshers. Instead they are smiley, fun-loving teenagers passionately mouthing the lyrics back to the band. And front man Gus Cox loves every second of it, grinning back at them through his tangled locks. This is the state of things from the word go. And ‘go’ they certainly do! Tearing through an energetic set full of songs that would happily fit into any indie disco, The Runners have captured the rawness of indie rock and roll Kings of Leon produced on their first album, whilst shades of blues rock that the 22-20s never quite mastered filter through in songs such as opener ‘Baby’s Gone’. My personal favourite is ‘Man Without A Face’ which can be heard on www.myspace.com/therunnersband Look out for their forthcoming single, because if this band aren’t on an NME Riot Tour in the not too distant future, there is something wrong with the country.





I don’t think I’ve ever before seen a band containing a drummer who looks younger than my little brother and a guitarist as old as my Dad. But tonight, fronted by the father of LOOK SEE PROOF, Optimist take to the stage to bring to the proceedings what can best be described as a mellowing-out from the full on rioting we have just spent the last half an hour caught up in. ‘Rule The World’ has us swaying our hips rather than jumping on top of each other, and tracks like ‘Smile’ take the vocals of Richard Ashcroft and puts them over solid-but-mellow rock that sounds like R.E.M playing Primal Scream covers. Highlights for me were the big drumming of Ciaran Wood, and the soaring sounds of Karl Eckert’s guitar. Visit www.myspace.com/optimist2007 to find out why tonight was so emotional for these guys…

But it’s headliners Look See Proof that all the excitement is about tonight. People are walking round in home-made ‘I love LSP’ tees, and from the start of the night chants of “look-see-proof” are echoing round the room, loudening as the tension increases before they take to the stage. At this point it climaxes into one of the best receptions I have heard for a band at Esquires.





Although some might put their popularity down to the big names they have managed to mingle with in their short careers (apparently they have only been around since January 06), it is clear to hear that their blend of Futureheads-meets-GoodShoes quirk-pop does all the talking. Stomping and strutting into opening song ‘Singles The New Together’, the next half an hour sees Look See Proof deliver an incredible barrage of pop, including songs ‘Tell Me Tell Me Tell Me’ and ‘Start Again’ that prove to be crowd favourites. LSP’s live performance is tighter than Johnny Borrell’s trousers, and with vocals delivered in a similar way to electro poppers, To My Boy, their next single (released March 5th) should tip them over the edge to full blown phenomenon. Photos are already up on www.myspace.com/lookseeproof





As sweaty teenagers file out of Esquires we can see that tonight Look See Proof have well and truly brought riotous rock and roll back to life.