The Culture, Stranger, Tinker Jack, Green Calibre, Josh Kershaw.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 7th April 2007.

Tonights gig features firstly young acoustic performer JOSH KERSHAW. Solidly built, he possesses the most ragged and ripped jeans I've seen for many a year! I was half expecting to see the token dog on a string and cap down at his side for some donations (!) while he strummed. His verbal delivery was the same stylistically as his musical delivery which is gentle, elaborate, and at times apologetic. The song '7 days' which was written about his father, and the closing "Something special" are the pick of his Level 2 debut.

To follow come GREEN CALIBRE who suffer a complete 'mare due to severe technical problems and abort their set after just three songs.

No such worries for following line-up TINKER JACK, a band that impressed me so much here recently, supporting Electric Soft Parade. Comprising of Rebecca Solesbury (singer, tambourine), David Litchfield (singer, acoustic guitar), Dave Copperwheat (guitar), Gareth King (drums), and Kristian Purcell (singer, bass). Although they truthfully admitted to being very nervous little sign of it is shown. In fact prior to their opening song 'Criminal' they generously shower the crowd with some Easter sweets. The set is once again slick and pacey, containing a fine structure of songs which include 'Baby Be Lonely' where the triple vocals excel. Also the haunting tribute to Johnny Cash which is 'Arkansas' and the beautiful harmonies of '25', while the raunchy 'Automatic Dam' contrasts strongly with the Big Country-ish sound of 'Free Ride'. The long outro to 'Higher Skies' brings Tinker Jack's set to a fruitful conclusion.

STRANGER are very much residents of the Esquires scene. Once again front-woman Miss Mason-Wilkes is elegantly attired with her Easter frock on while she flits athletically about the stage, a result perhaps of all that salsa dancing she has been indulging in recently. Anyway, all the familiar songs are performed so consumately. However one word of complaint. Please Jess can you cut out some of the needless and boring swearing which you indulge in during your in-between song stories. (It's so passé!)

Headlining are Lutonians THE CULTURE, who precede the intoxicatingly fine opener 'Mimi and My My' by urging the rather hesitant crowd to move closer to the front (they don't!). With some excellent variation of songs covering a multitude of styles, this band seem to be evolving quite nicely. 'Cue the Lights' is a case in point, with its huge funky basslines, while hard driven riffs dominate both 'Chase' and '1976'. A dash of ska (on 'Ska-Ska'), and some painful lyrics on 'Sweet Justine', the true and harrowing account of a naive 17 year-old girl complete this quality assortment.