Sunset Reset, Acidity, Suzaka.

Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Thursday 18th February 2010.

Thursday showcase nights are back, brought to us as always by Bedford Alternative Music. Tonight, organiser and host Keith Pickering goes 'shoegazing' as it's virtually an indie wonderland throughout. The four piece SUZUKA open very impressively. They are striving for a good time and are thankfully low on mindless banter, preferring instead to concentrate on composing accomplished and gutsy tunes. With good variation as well as utilising two main vocalists, the first part of their set has the added use of some keyboards. This electronic bonus is very much to the fore on the band's opening song. I must say that the surprise and the loudness of it was a wake up call to most of the people assembled here this evening. Very tight in each musical department, they concentrate every second on their performance. Although they reveal that "Switching Off" is a new one, the choppy guitar intro and the subsequent angular pop results show that they seem comfortable with it already.

Breaking up this 'indie love-in' and displaying bags full of teen spirit and loads of wide-eyed enthusiasm are ACIDITY. Last seen at Esquires early last month at the 'Stars in their eyes' gig, that night they played the part of RATM. This trio epitomise what showcase evenings are all about. Very raw, they are covers driven. Acidity feature a young impish shaggy haired frontman who is determined to give it everything he's got. With a beloved RATM cover, his youthful streak is ably demonstrated as he dementedly screams and shouts while flicking V-signs in every direction. This is quite tame in comparison to the finale of the song as he quite breathtakingly does the splits! Ouch! I bet that hurts, but there is not even a flicker of pain in this young man's face. It certainly brought collective gasps and more than a few tears to the watching public's eyes. At this particular stage they are not the most proficient of musicians, but the learning curve has well and truly started for Acidity.

I am very familar with SUNSET RESET and they don't disappoint. A bristling sound brimful of infectious tuneage. It is important to stress just how vital it is to have good vocals when you are trying to forge an impression. It does make a difference and this is where this young band score highly. Thoroughly complete with all-guns firing guitars, this relentlessly catchy and fiendishly spiky quartet are unashamedly upbeat. Fragmented hooks sit shoulder to shoulder with a knowing melodic suss. Even a risky underperformed new one works well. "Out of Reach" gains from a freaky head spinning intro before fully evolving into a mixture of styles. Indeed, they even add a touch of blues to the mix. Why, it could almost be Sunday afternoon in Danny's Bar! Sunset Reset also induce a little cheesy humour into the set. It features principally on their 'sexy' bass player who takes prime centre stage on this funky little tune. "Let It Go" is also a carefully constructed song and certainly worthy of note. With a set full of their own compositions, the lads can relax and play a couple of covers for their well deserved encore. After initially starting with a downbeat Radiohead song, the band literally fire up their ending with a merited version of "Fire".