The Star Dolls, Beautiful Sleazy, Air Canada, Last of our Heroes.

Lev 2. Esquires Bedford. 15th Octoberber 2010.

It seems perfectly obvious that self promotion is one thing that all the four bands appearing here tonight certainly lack. No merchandise is for sale and there is just the occasional shout for their now 'must have' Murdoch space (the real destroyer of the gig going public)! Tonight's bands have all travelled a few miles to be with us, but few of their mates have joined them. It's a real pity for Air Canada and The Beautiful Sleazy who highlighted the shortcomings of the other two. It is very much an evening of peaks and troughs.

THE BEAUTIFUL SLEAZY, once more at Esquires, put on a simply sensational performance. Great musicality and, in Dan Cahill, one hell of an awesome front man. Their influences are numerous. This quartet's roots seem to lay in the golden age of psychedelic rock 'n' roll with, of course, the natural sixties garage element. They down a handful of Doors and Zep pills, mix in a little 'Exile Stones', blend up some Kasabian and top it all off with a Kings Of Leon style modern twang. The bonus is Dan. With rock god long hair and a natural, well worn swagger, this is the look of a consummate leader. These retro rockers pack a punch of mammoth proportions, hairy, hairy and horny! They are also riffmungously chunky. "Alcohol" is a blast of energy driven blues rock executed to total perfection and is their most complete song of the set. A close second is "Shoot Without Hesitation". A collection of weighty bombastic tunes pour out of The Beautiful Sleazy like tap water. Once again, it has been a pleasure and privilege to have seen them.

Opening are AIR CANADA, a four piece from Northampton. They have been together for just over a year. Influences range from Biffy Clyro to Bloc Party. They show urgency and exuberance. Intelligent and constructive thoughts abound in their songwriting. However, at times it is slightly uneasy and the tempo of some of their songs can get a tad irritating, but never boring or repetitive. They bristle with bittersweet broodiness. Each carefully conceived song breathes gloriously into life. They explore different passages. "Rule 5 You're an Idiot" is fast charged. "Ready Aim Fire" is marked by the hypnotic lyrics of "dark and waiting for the days". The band are confident, almost cocky, as they announce prior to "The Artistic Crime of the Century Part 1", "You might not be ready for it, but your kids are going to love this". The song naturally contains elements of heaviness. For Air Canada, it's a promising Esquires debut.

The two other bands on show were, unfortunately, a little tiresome. LAST OF OUR HEROES and headliners THE STARDOLLS paled in comparison. Both bands suffered from a complete absence of songwriting ideas. Excitement is non-existent. It's attitude by numbers, which is so predictable. Oh well, look on the plus side. At least they weren't impressionable kids draped in corporate streetwear!