Halloween At Esquires. Henry & The Bleeders, Gevaudan, Dinges, George Rowell.

Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Friday 4th September 2015.

This is a night reserved exclusively for the costumed revellers. The time of the year when only the brave (or foolhardy!) are invited to enter this haunted (and believe me it is) venue. Special spooky cocktails are brewed and concocted and all three venues of Esquires are appropriately decorated; fancy dress is strongly advised and actively encouraged. The best ones will win a prize as does the pumpkin carvers. If you are not a winner, but have made a special effort on your look and costume, there is a small consolation of being photographed by a friendly skeleton, who does bear a striking resemblance to B.A.M.’s keeefkeeef. Check out the website website album for some terrifying ghoulish snaps.

tonight, Esquires has split itself in two. Bedford Alternative Music are hosting downstairs in the bar, while on the upstairs mainstage, three bands are on show. I obviously could not be in both places at once, so this is a review of what I did witness.

he is dressed so smart and stylish and his name is GEORGE ROWELL . He is introduced by keeef as a “spooky acoustic act from Transylvania.” George is immaculate in a Daniel Craig, James Bond spectre way. White shirt, waistcoat and bow tie, his relaxed style of playing incorporates a mainly covers based set. Two of his own compositions stand out through, The Kaleidoscope Effect was written by his friend Chloe, while George added the music. “Actions speak louder than words” is powerfully sung out. Tales Of The Wayward is we are told, the prospective title of his forthcoming E.P. or album. He is not sure at present; money will dictate that recording decision. Of his varied covers, I am most fascinated by the one that was penned by Luke Jackson. George performs Ghost Of The Crossroads. I remember seeing Luke, a lad of Kent, (he was only 14 or 15 years of age I believe) on many occasions at Bedford Live’s gigs in Harpurs a few years ago.

“Please spend less time clapping and just listen!” Spoken in a flat voweled drab Northern twang, it can only mean one thing, the irrepressible Chris Stephens, frontman and vocalist with Luton band DINGES . This trio embrace the Halloween spirit, but Chris is quick to rip off his rubberised mask, almost with distain it appears. If he seems familiar, it’s because Dinges were The Flexy Boys (Remember them?) with a different (and more reliable – Ed!) drummer. As I watch these retro grunge punk practioners, I recall how their previous incarnation used to like to make up some weird and wonderful song titles. Wouldn’t a version of Marmalade Broomstick been so apt tonight! Doves Mother begins with an immense psychedelic opening before soaking us with some stronger rock. Their complex song structures fit perfectly into this off kilter band. Chris, long of hair, utilises his unique vocal capabilities often. Sometimes strained, they provide a variable juxtaposition to the musicality and with much self depreciating humour. As A Misspent Youth comes to a closing finale, guitars are placed on the floor. A cacophony of intense feedback reverberates around the room. In keeping with their strong DIY ethics and ideals, I can reveal that their set list was written on the back of an official Jobcentre Plus application form. Nice One! I liked that.

With a huge respect to all the other bands and musicians on show tonight, the one I am especially looking forward to seeing are GEVAUDAN . I admit that I struggle to pronounce their name correctly, but how I love the music they make. As befitting the night, they wear some breathtaking attire, the quartet from Beds and Hearts are clad in dark medieval monk’s robes, beards, long free flowing hair and face paint dominate. Incense sticks gently waft their aroma around the bar, it certainly adds to the ambience. The Cursed Undead opens their set and we are quickly speeding off down the dirt track of doom. Names after the mystical man eating wolf, these musical beasts are chockfull of motorik riffs, which freely worm their way into your ears. They strike a flawless balance between atmosphere and aggression, it’s a bewitching fusion, their hooded frontman clutches a thick big old book and recites thus “Many many years ago darkness descended over Scandinavia.” These introspective beginnings branch out to the cataclysmic thrashings of Lament Of The North, all perfectly executed. These four doomlords continue to whack us incessantly with their monolithic battle axe hooks, adding some serrated ice cool frost bitten metal, which is constantly thrusted forth. Anguished blood curdling screams are howled with relish, they do battle with the percussive flourishes, its purely and simply just mesmerising in a hypnotic way. Lord Of Decay closes the Gevaudan sermon, as extracts from Revelations are spoken forth from the holy book. This is where the revellers who are dressed in their various guises really do get their collective heads caved in.

The mix is fantastic, as we absorb the sludgy three beats per minute riffs before suddenly the boneshaking brilliance of some serious guitar shredding fully takes over. Barbarically abusive drumming dominates, the skins are savaged with malicious intent. Tolling guitars of doom, manifest through drone metal acolytes. I’m totally transfixed by the relentless groove which keeps everyone’s heads and bodies moving. They rev up the distortion to the very end. Us, quite inebriated disciples, can only watch with a degree of jaw dropping awe. A perfect band to include for Halloween.

As I previously mentioned, bands were also playing on Lev 2 and so still caked in the aftermath slow of Gevaudan, I ventured upstairs to witness the headline set of one of Bedfordshire’s longest running bands, ladies and gentlemen, give it up to HENRY AND THE BLEEDERS . While most bands at a local level strive to create their own distinctive sound, few usually succeed. Since their own distinctive sound, few usually succeed. Since their formation back in 2004. HATB have bucked the passing phases of indie bish bosh bands and plastic metalheads. Outlasting them and still going, if not strongly, then steadily, with charismatic ‘Henry’ at the helm, they have created such a look and sound with the appropriate charisma.

Their early uncontrollable raw energy has mellowed a tad (though only a little) and the music, thanks to the more recent acquisition of Julian, has broadened the palette. The music that the Bleeders try to recreate, was primal, explosive and above all phenomenal. These lads capture it with the same aplomb, it’s an incendiary rush played at full speed. These rockabilly rebels offer the perfect opportunity (even tonight) to slap the pomade on your Barnet, dig out the beetle crushers, before polishing up that big belt buckle. Now its time to take a ride with the Volkswagen Boogie. My favourite is saved for last, with the ever raucous Hillbilly In A Psycho Band. Great melody, irresistible rhythms and some juicy stringed licks.

On Halloween night I must also make mention of the other artists, of whom I unfortunately missed. They were Verny Lee, Slutdrop and Black Doldrums on the main stage and Hulkenburg plus the resurrected Yellowknife Bay in the bar. However I feel tonight, the real stars of the evening, were the outrageously dressed crowd.