Pearl Handled Revolver, The Omnivibes, Last of the Barstools.

Lev 2. Esquires Bedford. 17th December 2010.

As I arrive on level 2, I am given the news that Automatic Audio have pulled out of tonight's gig. However, with the three remaining bands primed and ready for action, I'm still quite sure that we are in for a good evening of music. Opening are LAST OF THE BARSTOOLS. It is really difficult to contain the excitement I had for watching this indie folk band who were making their Esquires debut. Although based in London, they hail from all corners. Mark Kavanagh and Seb Coy are from Dublin, Chris March, Watford, while Laura Davies is an Essex girl. Their name is appropriate as they are all perched on the venues tall bar stools. Mixing and matching both vocals and instruments, their use of mandolin works well on "Painting in a frame". This acoustic quartet are akin to The Beautiful South meets Mumford And Sons. Their songs tell of wondrous stories, which are performed superbly. In a drinking establishment, how would you like your "Tequila Time Blues"? "Maybe with a dash of lime"!

Unfortunately, in this bitterly cold winter we are experiencing, a couple of the band are suffering from heavy colds. They apologise, but it certainly does not impair their stellar efforts. On the whole, their songs are mainly jaunty. However, "Romantics of Old" is a touch slower, slightly more reflective in its outlook. For me, Last Of The Barstools reached their peak with the divine "Hanging on a Belfry", such a catchy song. Hopefully they made some good friends in Bedford tonight. They deserved to because it was one of the most enchanting sets I have witnessed this year. Lovely people and a lovely band.

Going from one extreme to the other are THE OMNIVIBES. This is very heavy and extremely loud. They are, I feel, just a touch too repetitive. Incorporating guitarist and vocalist Paul Jackson (ex of the now defunct Swamis) plus his hard hitting drummer, it's very QOTSA influenced. High on energy but low on originality I'm afraid. Sorry. I got a bit bored by the time we got to the middle of song two.

PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER had had an exciting year with tours and impressive videos undertaken. Plans are in place for more of the same in 2011. Their live shows are always an event. They constantly seek the perfect stage presentation to complement their gritty bluesy rock concoction. I would like to think that they had succeeded tonight. A white sheet backdrop drapes down behind drummer Chris Thatcher. A moody psychedelic film show runs simultaneously. With a twin guitar spark allied to Simon's deft and gorgeous keyboard skills, the focal point for PHR goes to the immaculately attired vocalist Lee Vernon. A dapper suit may look stylish, but his vocal cords are possibly honed on a combination of ninety a day Marlboro and swallowing a handful of emery paper! He's assured as he leads the band through their paces. This potent sound combines with some wild, weird, surreal and wacky lyrics. Indeed, as Lee states late on in the gig "If there is anybody out there who understands the words, I feel for you"!

His intermittent use of the blues harp also offers more variations to the band's rich sound. Good applause echoes around, especially after "25 Below" which is there to "set the world alight". "Bring it All Home" is of similar ilk and the wiry front man rallies the gang to perform a much called for encore. They provide us with the appropriately named "When the lights go down" to close proceedings.