Patchwork Grace, Sphere, Teenage Casket Company, Optional Down.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 14th October 2006.

It took Nottingham’s arty rock’n’roll punk four piece PATCHWORK GRACE to save a gig literally dying on its feet tonight. Even I was totally bored and very nearly on the point of falling asleep (!) when this whirlwind wall of noise and colour crashed in and at last everything was alright in the Esquires world again.They contained everthing that had been missing practically all night - direction, excitement, and great tunes. Suddenly the past two hours were forgotten as Patchwork Grace swept everybody away on a tide of euphoria.
Their current single “Zebra”, which features the surreal throwaway chorus of “I don’t want to be a zebra, ooh ooh! No I don’t want to be a zebra” is spat out by alluring vocalist Tori Trash. The pure punk adrenaline fuelled 'Lovely' features Tori’s stuttering demented and unique style of dancing counteracting with the aggressive, convulsing and dissonant guitarists, and of course the sonic attack by Mr. Drummer. They bounce from one riff to another. In fact it’s a real shame when Patchwork Grace announce their last song. I for one wish them all the best, because at least they left me with the feeling that tonight had not been a total waste of time.

As much as I am loathe to criticise any band or individual that steps onto the big stage, the three opening bands tonight in their own way just did not push the right buttons for me at all. First on were OPTIONAL DOWN, a steady retro-rock outfit who feature band members from America, Germany as well as Britain. It's solid if not spectacular.

To follow were TEENAGE CASKET COMPANY, a more than made-up glam rock outfit who all through their set just kept reminding me of dear old Spinal Tap or Bad News at Reading circa 1987. I was just waiting for the Stonehenge monument to appear!

Local blues-rock three piece SPHERE at least restore some musical credibility with a solid musical intensity. However, with what appears to be a very diffident crowd, even this band bets sucked into the general malaise of the evening. But at least Patchwork Grace were just around the corner.