Ann and Floyd's Wedding Reception Gig!

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 29th October 2005.

Tonight a host of Punk bands say 'Congratulations' in their own unique fashion!

It was a special night for Tendons guitarist Floyd who had married his beloved Ann earlier in the day. Tonight was their night and with their friends it was a celebration of all things Punk.
Young pups HENRY AND THE BLEEDERS got the ball rolling as only they know how and, pushing the rockabilly into touch for the evening, they stuck rigidly to their Punk ethos, demonstrated most succinctly by the majestic 'Nazi Police'.

I have certainly witnessed a host of surreal things at this venue over the years but, at the invitation of Floyd, the acoustic duo Down In Flames certainly take some beating! DAVE BENNETT AND JON GOODSON, as well as playing some of their own compositions, threw in a sprinkling of Tendons covers! Can you believe it? 'Skippers', 'Life's Shit' played acoustically and with harmonies. Certainly an amazing sight and I thought they were excellent.

And so to the star of the show, Floyd and the rest of THE TENDONS. The boys were flying from the off and with crowd igniting them, all the family favourites were rolled out - 'Johnny Don't Care', 'Bedford Girls', Fishy Fanny', 'Lager' etc, and with John resplendent in his designer shades, they end a superb set with 'Evil'. It struck me that so far in 2005 The Tendons have played a gig on the day of a funeral and now also a wedding.

A question. When does one band metamorphosise into another? Well, it happened tonight as R.S.I. - John (vocals), Soggy (drums), Hedge (bass), Twig (guitar) - played a short set before some of them reverted to their day jobs as members of old skool punk band DUN 2 DEF. Both bands were high on energy and the spirit of 1976 came bubbling to the surface.

Charles Wells might well be Bedford's premier exporter, purveyors of the finest ales known all over the world. However, what about a shout for Bedford's premier exporter of music to the far flung corners of the globe - namely SICK ON THE BUS! America, Europe, Japan have all enjoyed their brand of Dead Kennedy Punk and Motorhead Metal. I suppose all of the countries they have visited have the stickers to prove it! Tonight Sick on the Bus are on home soil, an all too rare treat these days as they are on a constant non-stop hectic touring schedule. A least they behave themselves this time, a far cry from their infamous gig on Christmas Eve 2004!

Opening with 'Go to Hell' and then 'Freak (Don't be a Geek you Freak)'. these veterans of the local music scene blast out a set that is like a jackhammer on your brain cells. A thirteen song set with a encore tagged on which earned rapturous applause from the motley bunch of tartan trousered skinheads and mohican sporting punks!

A great evening of music - warm thanks to everyone involved and once again our best wishes to Ann and Floyd and their future happiness together.