Wolf Law, Benjamin Bloom, Get Set, Watch The Walls.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 6th March 2010.

After Your Army's very late cancellation, we have new headliners and it just happens to be Bedford's very own clued up desperados WOLF LAW. They thrive on level 2 and, once again, drip-feed me exactly the kind of musical nourishment I've come to expect during their 3 1/2 year career. These crate of lager drinking crunchers have fitted new batteries in their overdrive pedals and are fully ready to rock. With black leather jackets a staple part of their attire, chains are also worn with pride. This quartet bolt on even more rusting, festering guitars and, of course, an acidic punk 'n' roll spittle flows from Sean's rather deceiving angelic face. With the patriotic union jack banner unfurled as a back drop statement, Wolf Law produce powerful inventive hooks intertwined with their always recognisable sharp threaded riffs. Their underground honesty is always to be admired. A large turnout of fellow musicians is always a sure sign of respect. The songs are well known to the folks in the room and are played with so much heartfelt passion. Thanks to Wolf Law, the local sleazy rock 'n' roll scene has still got a pulse, not to mention a heartbeat!

Support starts with BENJAMIN BLOOM. A young man from Ipswich who could be loosely described as an 'avant electronica guy'. A sensitive persona with a somewhat contrary musical character, he is hard to nail down. Side stepping musical sterotypes, as far as solo based songwriters go, he is totally in a fashion free world of his own. He sets up his trusty keyboard while his pumping drum machine complements his abstract lyrics at all times. "Welcome to my World" is his opening salvo. "You Have no Need for Dreaming", why it's "Something Outrageous, Something Courageous". His easy song patter is perfect. Benjamin explains prior to "Chinese Whispers" that he took piano lessons earlier in his life and was never allowed to be indulgent. He tells us that this song is his indulgence. At it's close he thanks us for sitting through the longest ever intro! In fact, he replicates it for "Kingpin". "Madame Guillotine" ends an enjoyable first taster from Mr Benjamin Bloom.

Get Set are VIBRANT, new, exciting, fresh and possess so much youthful energy. This five piece, in their own words, combine "thick phat riffs with bouncy electronics" and hope that this new sound "will make you dance and groove along". Lads, tonight it does! Their new single "Jackpot" was released a few days ago. "My Success" though, is a brief chance for the band to slow it down. "It's for the lovers out there" they explain. "Feel the beat, feel the beat" - we do, we do! On this debut Esquires performance, Get Set leave plenty of good impressions and a return will be hotly anticipated.

Late replacements tonight are WATCH THE WALLS. They were, I'm afraid, rather out of their depth on this show. Form is temporary, class is permanent. At present this band seem to be at an uncertain crossroads in their musical development. Their earlier catchy pop-punk tunes seem to be getting submerged in their new vocalists penchant for 'droney sub-emo'. A shame. "You Know" is the only redeeming song of a rather flat and dispiriting thirty minutes. Watch The Walls, please crank it up. Go back to basics or ideally have a rethink. Hopefully you can rediscover that youthful spark which was sadly absent tonight.