Bedford Alternative Music Present: The Acoustic Showcase
Ben Kelly and Rachel Allman (Agape), Roger Fowler, Chris Williams, Alfie Ashpole.

Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Friday 22nd August 2014.

Following on from their many previous successful evenings, Bedford Alternative Music (BAM) held another of their enjoyable acoustic sessions. It is a chance for members of bands to leave the comforts of team solidarity and branch out on a stage on their lonesome. It can be nerve wracking and slightly intimidating, but ultimately very rewarding and gratifying. Stepping up first is Alfie Ashpole and he is no stranger to these nights. Alfie is in a predicament as he has left his favourite acoustic guitar at school. It is safely locked up in a cupboard but school's out for the summer. What is the poor lad to do? A Facebook message to BAM promoter Keith and I'm sure that words of wisdom would spring from the metalman's lips. Perhaps he would suggest that Alfie go to Goldings and get a crowbar or a saw. Perhaps some dynamite? Just break in and get it! I jest of course, but Alfie has come dressed as a potential burglar in a stripy top. To avoid any possible criminal record he has, quite rightly, borrowed somebody else's guitar, wise lad. This set is very much predictable to those who have seen his acoustic show before. In front of a predominantly non-indie crowd, Alfie asks "Do we have any Snow Patrol fans or is it just me?". Blank stares accompany "Chasing cars". He has more luck when asking for Sterophonics fans and "Maybe tomorrow" ensues. I feel that Alfie is at that embryonic stage of his musical development when he sorely needs to venture into the brave new world of songwriting. His own compositions would add so much to a confident stage persona. A dedication to his late grandad for "I swear I mean it this time" is deeply touching.

A couple of years ago, Chris Williams was a member of local metallers To Light An Abyss then one day he decided to cut off his long hair and "join the army". "Well, cadets" he adds. Initially Chris appears rather nervous, but his confidence does develop as he performs a set of covers such as "Huge vehicle" (InMe) and "Creep" (Radiohead). It brings him some plaudits as one female attendee offers gushing praise of Chris' tonsils by shouting out "your voice is bloody gorgeous". Chris reaches his peak on a self composed song. With his loyal parents in attendance, he tells us knowingly that "my mum's going to hate this", before performing "F**k her gently". It's funny, graphic and I'm sure that his mother did dislike it. Bedford does have a rather risqué punk band called The Tendons and I feel that if they ever required acoustic support then Chris Williams would slot in well as this is more naughty than anything than they ever do. Well nearly....

Roger Fowler is more familiar as the abrasive voice of punk band Yellowknife Bay. Roger bucks the trend of the evening by performing seated. A cool left-handed acoustic player, his choice of covers is quite left field. I especially like his selection of the late Townes Van Zandt. Roger is dark haired and bespectacled with a neat beard. He strums with an irreverent sense of fun. Indeed he has written a composition but "all the words are not completed yet"! He admits that if he "gets any lyrics wrong in this set" people should let him know. He doesn't, but he does have a huge wad of paperwork laid out in front of him. He also performs a couple of Yellowknife Bay songs, namely "Maria" and "The train that stole her away".

Ben Kelly returns to Holy Moly's acoustic stage. This fella impressed me a lot the last time that he was here and starts off in the same vein tonight with some extremely amusing self written compositions. He informs us that he lives "in Oakley", a small village "with one newsagent, one beauty salon" and, he adds knowingly, "one prostitute". Ben starts with the song that I most remember him by from the last visit, it's "Sports Direct"! Although "its' the UK's number one, it's not all fun and games". In fact, he'd "rather be a rent boy than work at Sportsdirect.com". Although Ben used to be an employee of the company, thankfully he now has employment at Autoglass. "Little things" is not, we are told, the One Direction cover, but a funny ditty about the awkward situation of being in a hotel bathroom that has run out of toilet paper and having to use the shower curtain instead! Yes really! The cheeky songs continue with "Put your clothes back on", ooh missus! Halfway through the set Ben is joined by Rachel Allman to form Agape. The whole feel and tempo changes very dramatically as giggly karaoke takes over from the bawdy tales. I feel that the audience lapped it up more than I perhaps did. Please Ben, stay solo and continue to sing songs about transvestites. Another acoustic warm up potential for The Tendons.