ASH, with Violet Bones and Dolomite Minor.

Bedford Corn Exchange Tuesday 23rd July 2013.

Astounding Sensational Heavenly, Three words that only go halfway to describing the superb show put on by Ash tonight. Full credit must go to The Pad Presents for finally succeeding in bringing this trio to Bedford for the first time. In fact, during the show frontman Tim Wheeler admits that the band, were very close to playing in the town back in 1994 but had to reschedule! Also, at the turn of the century Ash lined up a handful of gigs at the country's smaller venues. It was an internet voting competition and Esquires narrowly missed out. Forever a personal favourite (although I always thought that they were better when Charlotte was a member), I did wonder how Ash were going to play it tonight, set list wise. Surely it wouldn't be a greatest hits package would it?

After the support bands have played (more on them later), the Corn Exchange seems to get even more packed. The time has nearly arrived and the anticipation and excitement is growing stronger by the minute, fever pitch even. The adjoining Number 13 bar is doing steady trade and suddenly a loud crescendo of noise strikes up. It is time to rush back into the main arena. Yes, the time has finally arrived and Ash are on stage. This is not going to be a "Meltdown"! Vocalist/guitarist Time Wheeler and bassist Mark Hamilton are on twin flanks while drummer Rick McMurray (did I hear it was his birthday?) is seated behind on a raised level. A giant Ash banner hangs proudly above. Space is at an extreme premium with everyone wedged shoulder to shoulder. From my vantage point, which is at the rear of the room, it is just a veritable sea of bodies in front of me. The first mass singalong coincides with "Girl from Mars" (I count five songs from the iconic "1977"). When this song was originally released, Ash were equally loved by the music press as diverse as NME and Kerrang, even Smash Hits! They crossed all frontiers. With "Oh yeah" a total pop gem, "Binary" is in homage to their A-Z singles collection. Indeed when Ash were on a countrywide A-Z places tour they completed it at a village hall in Zennor, Cornwall, bizzarely in front of sixty lucky people. This song seems to act as a break, a chance for everyone to have a breather or a 'refuel'. Those who did that are rewarded as Ash then produce a total full-on triple whammy. The goodies are plucked out, firstly "Goldfinger" before the one-two suckerpunch of "Walking barefoot" and then it's "Kung fu". The former still sounds so wonderfully optimistic, whilst the latter displays its customary snappy venom. I don't normally fall for nostalgia but I fell headfirst into that Ash trilogy. For the band's more recent converts "Evil eye" and "Orpheus" tick those people's boxes. "Sometimes" finds nearly everyone mouthing the lyrics in total unison. Wow! It's hard to believe that this time last night Ash were supporting The Smashing Pumpkins at Wembley Stadium, now they are here in Bedford! It may be like a sauna in here, with everyone sweating out as much liquid as they consume. They care not a jot as everyone here will remember this gig for a very long time.
With a still boyish grin, Tim Wheeler is very much the driving force and possibly one of the best songwriters of the past twenty plus years. Underrated and unfairly unheralded, Ash could very well proclaim to be the last of the best British singles bands. The stunning "Shining light" proves it beyond doubt. The song conjures up Nirvana meets The Beach Boys. Grunge kisses West coast melody but in a Kinks-y English manner. This catchy blighter is played with such carefree abandon. It won an Ivor Novello award and is so beautifully simplistic. A personal favourite is "Jack names the planets", Rick's big boom kick drum is so powerful on a composition that is a giant hormonal surge of songwriting skills. "Return of the white rabbit" from 2010 closes the set to the inevitable rapturous applause and loud cheers. The much vaunted encore is executed with total aplomb. "Angel interceptor" is followed by the independant chart-topping "Uncle Pat". "Twilight of the innocents" is a mere curtain raiser to our final slice of Ash, which is the brilliant "Burn baby burn". This is when the band almost do punk, but hey, this trio are far too nice for that. The best single of 2001? Well it was for me and a sublime punk meets metal headrush collides full on. With this, the still firm friends, Tim Mark and Rick accept their praise, acknowledge everyone and leave the stage. The crowd were left cheering and very happy. Without doubt this has been one of the best gigs Bedford has ever offered. Ash the greatest hits and so much more!! Fantastic stuff!

Opening, and impressing, are Southampton's DOLOMITE MINOR . They are a total revelation. Very Drenge-ish, this duo offer up enough sound and power to do justice to a full band line up. It used to be slightly purist for this sort of band to capture the interest and imagination of the mainstream, but these lads succeed wholeheartedly and push the boundaries way out in the process. They are in vogue with this brainsplitting grungy blues rock. "Hypnotised" is such an apt song title, because I was. It has an awesome riff and the stoner sonics are fantastic, as are the rest of the band's efforts. A band I shall keep an eye out for in the future. A marvellous and exhilarating introduction.

Not so riveting were VIOLET BONES . This Cambridge four piece offer up nothing new, in fact some of the set reminds one of the eighties Alarm. Urggh. With songs "about scratchcards", this was turgid stuff. What a shame a Bedfordshire band could not have been given this prestigious slot. "Whats your problem" is their single and is "Only 69p on i-Tunes". I am not tempted or converted. "Got nobody", well I couldn't wait for them to terminate their set. The low point in the evening. Disappointing and boring.