The Mono Effect, Scope, Linchpin, The Scare, Symbo.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 23rd February 2007.

For a classy line-up of bands, the undoubted stars of this evening are Australian rockers THE SCARE who more than live up to their name with a breathtaking 30 minutes set. This was a totally off the wall experience which more than matched their previous appearance here last June. Vocalist Kiss Reid is the catalyst for all the demonic forces that emanate from this antipodean five-piece. His lank long DIY hairstyle hangs over his eyes and from the opening salvo of jumping headlong off stage into a nervous crowd, we were expected to expect the unexpected! His few words are mainly mumbled and largely incoherent and his initial "Hello sweethearts. We are from Australia and we are the future" is about as intelligible as it gets!
For The Scare this is a warm-up gig for their forthcoming tour, which hits London's Astoria on Tuesday as support to We Are Scientists. The band's forte is most definitely their live performance, a real stripped down, back to basics, no-nonsense rock'n'roll experience best described as a New York Dolls for the 21st century. Opening song "Bats" is a totally full-on sleazy experience, even down to the classy waistcoats worn by a couple of the band. "Irony" is the fulcrum as The Scare are akin to a timebomb waiting to explode.

Also appearing are Leighton Buzzard's SYMBO, who continue to impress with their relaxed form of controlled rock. Linchpin consisting of Joey (vocals), Paul (guitar), Mike (bass) and Ollie (drums) and appear to be at the crossroads of success. Will they make it? I'm not sure on this tepid performance. Their cover of The Only One's 'Another Girl, Another Planet" can only be described as 'ill-advised'.

Also featuring were youngsters SCOPE and Cambridge's The MONO EFFECT, who played to a virtually empty room (a bit of an insult to a headline band).