The Riffs, The Pressure Tones.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 4th September 2009.

Continually keeping the ska fans of Bedfordshire happy are Upbeat Promotions. Unfortunately, due to a family bereavement within the band, Dirty Revolution had to cancel their appearance. However, the two remaining bands kept the hundred or so attendees dancing and skankin' until the very end.

THE PRESSURE TONES from Northampton just continue to get better and better each time I see them. They have an album "Reverence" to promote, although I feel they rather over advertise the fact, constantly on stage. I can, however, highly recommend it. A quality recording that captures the band at its best. The set of songs they perform for us are culled extensively from this debut cut. The focal point for any band on a live performance is their front person. This is where The Pressure Tones score so highly. Phil has the perfect voice to carry off all of the songs, while his lean, lithe frame moves around endlessly. The cheeky between song banter works perfectly while, tonight, his throwing skills are also put to the test as he playfully hurls a stuffed teletubby toy from the stage!!!

The songs come thick and fast, "Reverence" has a raunchy guitar intro before their trademark keyboard sound moves in. Phil then takes centre spot before singing my favourite song of the evening - "Ain't got no time for compromise / This is the sound of pressurised". "Little Sister" seems to draw inspiration from Bad Manners, fittingly it's Buster's birthday on Sunday. I also like the opening words of "Binge Britain" - "Here we all are on a merry go round"! "Look at You" is spat out with total venom, while the Booker T-esque organ sounds of "Kingston Rock" are so divine. Phil amusingly tells us that "it's about Kingston on Thames"! "Monkey Business" is pure instrumental. Although The Pressure Tones have played Esquires quite a few times, I felt that this was simply their finest moment. A faultless set that I loved from beginning to end.

Headlining are THE RIFFS, who tell us that they are celebrating twenty years as a band. This ska-reggae outfit also throw in a touch of soul to their music. They come across as really nice people who ply their 'riddims' for near on ninety minutes and keep an alcohol soaked audience fully skanked up for the whole time. However, for this reviewer, and certainly after The Pressure Tones explosive blast, the set became a chore, principally because of all the covers they play, or rather bludgeon! Amongst the motley collection are "Green Onions", "Rock the Casbah", "I don't like Mondays" (twice) and, quite bizarrely, Prodigy's "Out of Space". It has to be fully emphasised that the vast majority of people present really seemed to be enjoying this dip into the past. An impromptu gathering on stage towards the end is testament to this. But, for someone who appreciates bands on level 2 playing their own compositions, I just seemed to lose interest the more The Riffs played.