New Adventures, Pirate Radio, Swanton Bombs, Shapes.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 18th July 2008.

Currently on an extensive tour of the country are tonights headliners NEW ADVENTURES, who are a London quintet who, despite sounding very much like Embrace, produce a set that is rich in entertainment. Although the crowd turnout is disappointingly poor, vocalist Jez makes light of the situation, and as well as having an amazing voice, he is at all times chatty, warm and very friendly. Jez spars with the singalong bar staff and as this braces-wearing working class hero surveys the sparse surroundings, he notices that the audience has split into two groups. "If this was a pantomime we would be on to a winner!" he wryly comments.

Above all, New Adventures certainly gain from the keyboard skills of Helen, whose lush intro build-up to the majority of the set is a definite plus. It first comes to light on the bands' forthcoming single "In our Hands", although this ultimately has a more gritty rockier edge. Both the intro and outro to "Hanging Over" are divine, while New Adventures first single "How I got my Devil Back (Part 1)" has the vocals soaring majestically on this lyrically emotive song. The brand new "It's on the Tip of my Tongue" includes some richly textured combinations. In fact, I find the New Adventures set is best summed up by the aptly entitled "Something Amazing", which tonight I thought they were.

Supporting are, firstly, PIRATE RADIO who continue to be a perennially good live band. Songs such as "If you Think and Move, Dance", "Take it or Leave it" and the Lutonian anthem of "Be a Villain" exude intoxicating riffs allied to some knockout choruses.

The same, however, cannot be said of the disappointing SWANTON BOMBS who follow. A two piece guitar vocal and drum duo, the whole set fails to flow, and there is no communication between band and crowd. It's power pop that's seriously under strength and for me the end cannot come quickly enough.

Thankfully normal service is resumed with the cocksure Luton combo SHAPES. Their chirpy 'Jack the Lad' vocalist is in fine Friday night form as he encourages the small crowd (in fact most people here have travelled to see Shapes) "to come to the front for a dance!". As well as the familiar favourites such as "Big Time Charlie" and yet another Luton anthem, namely "Machete Street", the band include a couple of new songs "Bruno" and "Fatality, Nightmare, Reality". Shapes are going to gauge the crowd's reaction as they perform these freshly written tunes. Judging by the reaction it does seem like "Bruno" is the knockout winner.