The Measure, The Jacks, Pretty Little Mutiny, Echobox.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 5th December 2008.

Once again, bands new to Esquires are given their chance to impress Bedford's public, under the stewardship of Little Red Roster. ECHOBOX are a Luton five piece whose style, both musically and especially vocally, brings to my mind Robert Harvey and The Music. Its, at times, dreamy spaced out guitar solos nestle between the vocalist's adenoidal singing and synths that are split between being both pulsing and saturnine! On first listening and viewing, Echobox are most definitely a guitar fan's band, whose consumate stage presence is impressive to witness. Most of the set contains a song formula. A synth appetizer explodes into a guitar raged crescendo. However, ‘What Would You Say’ is, as the band are quick to tell us is "a slow one. That's all we can say!". Echobox revert to type with their closing song ‘Disappearing Seas’.

Hitchin trio PRETTY LITTLE MUTINY are Joe (vocals, bass), Jordan (vocals, guitar) and Lolly (drums). Undeterred by a major technical malfunction at the beginning of their first song ‘First Rat off a Sinking Ship’. The youngsters mix a set based on a punk/grunge sound. It does seem to alternate between which lad takes the lead vocals. I especially liked the grungier songs, of which the very catchy ‘Without You’ is the immediate stand out. Well presented and projected with power. Rock surfaces with closing song ‘Linus’. It is a tight all round performance that earns good applause at its close.

THE JACKS are the hidden gold nugget in the line-up tonight. This Northampton quartet bring their freshly baked, and at times very tasty, indie rock cake to the level 2 table. With classy and well defined song structures allied to a sprightly charm, they should be just the tonic for a reviewer ailing with the early stages of "man flu"! This is a band who would complement a balmy summer's evening. The opening ‘Andy’ starts off with a dramatic drum solo before the constant lyrical refrain of "you son of a gun" takes over. A a self-confessed sucker for the jingly-jangly, I am hooked by ‘Lesser Man’, an instant favourite. The Jacks facilitate swirling melodies almost at will. It brings to mind Teenage Fanclub, ‘Howdy’ era. Although unfamiliar to the vast majority in attendance tonight, they are confident enough to bring us a new composition entitled ‘No Rain, No Rainbows’. The band inform us that they are to be back on home soil shortly at Roadmender. I hope a return to Bedford is also on their future agenda.

Another band from the, at present, fertile musical area known as Ampthill headline. Young funksters THE MEASURE continue their stady progress. There's passion, there's reason and good invention. All this in addition to injecting some interesting funky tunes in front of their travelling fans. They are in a seemingly defiant and celebratory mood as the quartet grasp everybody's soul. It's free 'n' easy as they nonchalantly deliver confidence with a capital C. ‘Versatility ‘ opens with warmth and a pulse of positivity, while ‘Don't Go Changing’ includes such subtle manoeuvres. In fact, the only disturbing part of The Measure I can detect is the savage haircut undertaken by the vocalist! ‘House’ is from the forthcoming January release of their EP. Infusing some cool salsa, it certainly brings everything to the boil. The band leave us with some Stevie Wonder incorporated into ‘Good for Me’. Some top notch finger picking skills from Billy on ‘Let Me In’ and an above average ‘Foxy Lady’. The lights then come on to signal the end of the evening.