Mumm-Ra, Blonde Louis, Flamboyant Bella.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 6th March 2008.

Our headliners tonight are MUMM-RA, who I would best describe as a quite quintessential village green band. Hailing from that picturesque Sussex coastal resort of Bexhill on Sea, these five young lads Niall, Gareth, Ollie, Tate and Noo create a good impression with their breezy hook-laden pop tunes. Thirteen songs are performed in a little over forty minutes. Top value and no short change from this quintet. Their presentation and feeling for our venue is immense and very warm. Front man Noo does all the talking and strikes up an instant rapport with what is a good sized turnout for a Thursday. The Mumm-Ra fans surge to the front as Noo makes his way on to the stage alone. He acoustically strums to "Clown". Eventually he is joined onstage by the rest of the band, The show is well and truly underway. Greeting us all at its end, Noo shouts out "Hello Bedford!".

Performing songs from their vastly underrated album of last year "These Things Move in Threes". I detect an air of early Blur amongst the sound of Mumm-Ra, most especially on "She's Got You High". It's their recent single and the audience are as one as they unite with the band to sing "She's got you high and you don't even know yet". Arms are in the air 'terrace style'. It's not a surprise, as this is anthemic bliss rock at its mellow best. Of course during their set there are the inevitable low points, such as "Song B", which seemed to 'rehash' a lot of old familiar tunes to produce a sub-standard song, while the following "Light Up This Room" certainly doesn't. However, those two compositions are in the minority as the rest of Mumm-Ra's set sparkles. The blend of styles woven into "Now or Never" are immense. Noo's use of the harmonica was also to be admired. So confident are they tonight that a newly written song is dropped in. The boys call it 'the other one'. "Do you wanna hear it?" Noo asks inquisitively! The reply is not a surprise.

Probably the song of the night is the one Mumm-Ra leave us with. It's called "Out of the Question" and it is literally dripping with hook-laden riffs. Guitars talk as they chime and reverberate around the room. Truly awesome stuff and the crescendo of applause that echoes around the room at the close is music to Mumm-Ra's ears. Noo has some kind words to end with "It's been fun. Perhaps we can come back someday?".

Support featured firstly youngsters BLONDE LOUIS, who try hard in front of the early birds. They are notable for a couple of good tunes "Nothing to Lose" and "Little Toys". Also for a great quote from the vocalist, who comments to the crowd "you look more scared than me"! Priceless.

A return for FLAMBOYANT BELLA, a four-piece that rely on lush harmonic male/female vocals. Synths also play a major part, especially on "Ridiculous", which is heavily influenced by Beautiful South. It's all rather fluffy and lightweight until the band's final song which is a mad rambling trance dance tune that wakes me up and truly excels. A total contrast to the rest of the set in both sound and vision.