Bedford Alternative Music Present: The Acoustic Showcase
Ryan Prazer, Thrash Gordon, George Rowell, Alfie Ashpole.

Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Thursday 17th April 2014.

The prologue to this review has often been used in the past because today is Maundy Thursday, the one before the Easter holidays. It's the traditional Bedford Alternative Music gig and tonight is an acoustic showcase. It is held in the hushed confines of Holy Moly's and I have to state that the crowd that turned up were one of the best and most respectful that we have ever had for a BAM night. The formula for this evening has been used before and it features members of bands being taken out of their comfort zone of their band and placing them squarely on their own, the spotlights and everyone's gaze upon them.

First up to the intimidating musical oche is ALFIE ASHPOLE. This tall fresh faced lad was formerly in Fences And Floodlights. A couple of weeks ago he played an acoustic set in the bar in front of a load of metal fans. When standing ready to start, Keith asks him where he has "flown in from?". With classic deadpan humour, Alfie dryly replies "Wooton"! For this reviewer it reminds me of the classic "nah Luton airport" TV ads of the late 70s (google it). He wears a red check shirt and black trousers, while the girls must love his fashion conscious hairstyle. This is a covers set and is performed confidently. Any potential hecklers are warned off when Alfie says "as you can tell I'm still at school, unlike you lot"! It has been well documented that he applied to go on Britains Got Talent and the cover song that Alfie used for the video audition is played for us. It is "I swear this time I mean it". His last rendition is "Chasing cars" and George Rowell lends his assistance.

GEORGE ROWELL. Soon after warming up his vocal cords with Alfie, Mr Rowell is back for his own set. This fella is the bassist for Broken Conscience, George announces that he is "in a metal band". He then proceeds to perform an acoustic version of one of their songs "Demonise". It is my favourite from a gentleman who wears a T-shirt with the words 'Trust me I'm a doctor' written on it, although slightly obscured by a classy dark waistcoat. Forceful and confident, he downs a bottle of water before nonchalantly tossing it backwards over his head. He finishes his set with a couple of Alter Bridge covers, "Wonderful life" and "Watch over you". He cleverly blends them together and the lyrics are spat out with a fair degree of rage.

Sometimes at a BAM show there is the element of surprise and that is certainly the case tonight. THRASH GORDON is advertised to play. Who can it possibly be? Well with his cheeky grin, fair hair and, for this performance, bells on his shoes it is none other than Danny Young from Speedshot. He begins with "Nothing" which features a sudden ending. An uptempo "Last breath" follows. "Silently waiting" is almost a ballad while "True" is so bluesy. A mandolin is utilised to good effect on "Coming home". The calm of "Black and white" gives way to his final offering of "Witch hunt" which is has a rockabilly tinge.

Last, but certainly not least, is RYAN PRAZER. This Lost Whilst Live frontman has travelled all the way from Luton. A punk at heart, his mohican is very impressive. With a Plan B cover, sometimes Ryan does travel a slightly urban route. His voice matches it well with a raspy lilt colouring everything during his entertaining set. After seeing him gurn and shout for his band, this set paints him in a better light. This is a lad whose mindset is acoustic music played with a punk rock attitude. On this spirited performance Ryan reminds me of a young "Hamell On Trial who summed up anti-folk the best, once describing his song "The meeting" as "I'm like Nine Inch Nails without the machinery" or "I'm like Beastie Boys except I'm only one"! Ryan sings so truthfully "at least it's not the chart stuff where the lyrics suck". Through his set he is at times ably assisted by both Laura and his "missus" Keely. "Role models" is my favourite as it contains some amusing biblical references such as "then there's Noah, he's got his f**king ark, he thinks he's hard"! I thought that was quite appropriate for Easter, in a punk way. The last one is described as a "mash up" that Ryan likes to call "Frisky dreams".