The Bedford Athletic Rugby Club Wentworth drive, Putnoe Bedford. Friday 8th December 2006.
All Your Rage, 91 Pieces, Scope, The Final Prototypes, Lizard Kiss.
New Bands Final
Having met through school at 12 years of age and later adding a 4th member after changing school ALL YOUR AGE now all 15 years of age, were the first band on, having drawn straws to choose a fair line-up order.
I love this band for putting so much in to this gigs performance, capable of really putting on a show and entertaining us with an origional sound and not sounding as if they are trying to copy any main band.
I think I would like to see a 91 PIECES gig with NO banter to the crowd just to see how they go when they 'just get on with it',
They did rather a slow cover of a Marley song, which didn't really do them any favours, although it speeded up a tempo with their usual songs, delivered with gut churning vocals. They are quite a fun band to see, with songs not really on kilter, they don't have that bad material, just a need to execute it better. I thought the really fast lyrics sung on one song was done rather well and effort was made with their appearance and self-designed banner pinned to the backdrop.
Along with being the date of this New Bands Final - 8th of December, it also marks the day Dime Bag of Pantera was taken from us, which was respectfully mentioned during the performance from (Blink 182 divided by 2 equals '91 Pieces').
There was such a quality contrast when SCOPE - playing a tight, well practiced gig to a switched on and engaged crowd. It flowed so smoothly and they deserved to have got this far. Great drumming (although being a perfectionist he wouldn't think so) and quality guitar work, even though the vocals were a bit flat in relatively small places, they had some good song structures, along with a good use of movement on stage. The on-stage banter was I felt just right, quite calmly spoken and not overused and finished off in tribute style with a great Pantera cover which only Scope could carry off and they are all probably too young to appreciate the compliment that they remind me of past local legends 'Alterica' - hugely popular before Scope were on the scene - which I hope will be for a long time yet.
Having bust a string and not seeming to keep it going, pop, punk, indy band - THE FINAL PROTOTYPES recovered with a bit too early for a cover but reasonably well executed 'Teen Spirit' from Nirvana.
Just when you thought you had this band sussed and think you know their style, they add other dimensions, keeping the sound invigorated with some added and quite exquisite, beautiful guitar work. A good performance.
LIZARD KISS started so well and sound well practiced with professional sounding singing, much improved from last time, their pure rock sound flowed so well, with an industrial sounding edge adding to the heavily AC/DC sound. Not the best crowd response although probably deserved after a band member arriving late (with a burned hand) and perhaps getting their just deserts after shooting off so quickly from their Danny's bar gig, taking the crowd with them! This was certainly a better performance that their last heat gig.
The object of the New Band Final is a chance to let younger bands be in with a chance with something over the more seasoned established bands that they might share a bill with in a previous round.
All runners up from this gig get 50 band badges made up to their design each; with the winners -'SCOPE' (Well done guys!) receiving a 250 voucher and members of the other bands even agreeing on the judges decision made.
Keith www.bedfordmetal.co.uk