Run Like Fun, Grim City, Fistfights and Brakelights, Sphere.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2. 9th December 2005.

It was in the Summer if 2002 that Sphere made their first appearance at Esquires. Tonight, after a gap of almost two years, this three piece local outfit are back and what a return they make!

The roots of the Blues came from suffering and depression, a release of exalted pleasure coupled with a celebration of pain. When The Rolling Stones and other young bands of their ilk back in the 1960's delved back into the vaults of legendary blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, the British Blues Rock explosion was born. Later, bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and, above all, The Jimi Hendrix Experience to this genre onto a higher and heavier level.

For such a young band as SPHERE to recapture the sound and the feel of such a golden age of music was a real credit to them.

There set had a real uplifting feel to it, none more so than with songs such as 'The 20 Twenty Minute Song' (which only lasts two and a half minutes) with its full on Blues sound. 'Grip' started with a Jazz Blues intro before exploding into a moshy grunge sound that Nirvana would have been proud of. With the impromptu introduction of guest vocalist Simon, who joined the band for a short, sharp, burst, it was no surprise to hear the demands for an encore at the end of Sphere's set. The band return to massive applause and the stage presence of Sphere frontman Terry Jamison had to be admired - the catalyst of a band who tonight were on the top of their game!

FISTFIGHTS AND BRAKELIGHTS opened tonight's gig but experienced a few technical problems which virtually reduced their 25 minute set to an elongated sound check! GRIM CITY also suffered from the same and after such a sparkling start the loss of their bass guitar really halted their progress. Milton Keynes youngster RUN LIKE FUN had no such problems and played with such a degree of high-octane enjoyment that it couldn't help but filter through to their loyal followers who revelled in the uber-camp cover of 'Y.M.C.A.'