BO NINGEN
with Ice Sea Dead People, Broken DC.

Bedford Esquires Holy Molys Lev 1 Friday 31st May 2013.

For those fact hunters amongst you, I can reveal that 154 years ago today Big Ben's legendary loud chimes rang out over the Houses of Parliament, Westminster for the very first time. I would imagine that it created a big shock to the cockney folks of the 'Big Smoke'. Fast forward to 31st May 2013 and for the first time ever, Japanese noiseniks BO NINGEN walloped and sonically destroyed Holy Moly's in Esquires. How was tonight? Well, for a person perhaps fortunate enough to spend so much time week after week watching countless bands of varying genres, I do become a tad blase sometimes and get bored by the similar offerings on display. Every now and again, hope springs eternal, an oasis (not the awful band!) in a sand laden desert of utter mediocrity. Tonight is so different, a musical orgasmic moment where I witness something truly special, even at my more than advancing years. Bo Ningen blow our heads off quicker than a shot, taking me to a land that not even a 'postage tab' on the tongue could possibly achieve!

This hastily arranged warm-up show (put together only three weeks ago) is a must see for lovers of guitar/drums based music, especially any aspiring musicians. Credit must go to The Pad Presents, mere words of a review fail to do justice as to how flippin' good Bo Ningen were. I will use just two; amazing and sensational. Just put an Anglo-Saxon expletive in front of those words and you will not even be half way to describing the oriental magic of Bo Ningen. Comprising Taigen Kawabe (bass/vocals), Kohhei Matsuda (guitar), Yuki Tsujii (buitar) and Akihide Monna (drums), Japan has always embraced British alternative music from the punk of the 70's to the sugar pop indie of the 90's. The quartet respectfully walk onto the 'stage'. It's bare and dimly lit. I feel that it is far too small for what we are about to witness. The tension in the air hangs in the ether in this 'tagged on' part of Esquires. Although there have been gigs here in the past, this is primarily a disco area. There is no soul like upstairs where so many famous names have carved a creative path or parked up for a pension top up. I suppose beggars can't be choosers! As soon as our visitors pick up their instruments we can begin our journey, a voyage of expansive discovery to that magical psychedelic garage rock wonderland of sound. The aforementioned tension, it just snaps. What comes next is forty or so mins of poleaxing riffs and there seems to be an unseen haze of noise. Total Japanoise! The band name says it all. Translated it means match men. They are so thin, tiny legged individuals with long, long flowing black hair and big hearts. The Horrors adore them. Bo Ningen have also collaborated with Savages, as well as krautock legends Can. Their recently released second album entitled "Line The Wall" received massive critical acclaim. Tracks from it are showcased this evening. The pinnacle is their final offering, the totally awesome "Daikaisei Part II III". It is given even greater effect by it's predecessor, the quieter and moody "Ten To Sen", while the latter is refective and tantalisingly builds, the former just explodes with full force. It is brutal, but addictive, the perfection is complete. It smothers me, engulfs me. From my vantage point, I cannot visually see a lot of the band, but I smell the sweat, I sense the occasion. These inventive Japanese gentlemen unleash huge music in such a small colourless room, somehow it seems to make everything more special. Bo Ningen metaphorically damage us all. Ear drums bleed, brain cells disintegrate one by one and at the close we have been musically disembowelled! What a night!

Support opens with BROKEN DC . Loosely they combine elements of Explosions In The Sky with an art rock angle. The trio offer a fine start to our evening.

After a lengthy gap of five years, it's great to welcome ICE SEA DEAD PEOPLE back to Esquires. Recently they have been lauded in both the NME and Kerrang for their fantastic new album "If It's Broken, Break It More", complete with a picture of Nadine Dorries eating balls instead of talking them. It is an unfortunate title as local lad, guitars/vocalist, Craig Sharp broke his hip recently and is still struggling a bit. You certainly would not have known it as the band batter us with a barrage of discordant guitars and unrelenting drums. The excellent "Ultra Science" is the highlight which draws from some old school hardcore. Magnificent return.