BREED 77, with DILATE, and SUMMERFALL.

Bedford Thirst Club Esquires. Friday 21 January 2005.

(c) www.bedfordmetal.tk

A lot of bands were vying for the slot of getting a gig backing this quite big band to visit the venue; I was quite pleased when SUMMERFALL got the privilege, as I’ve always thought they were quite good and it seems the venue promoters would agree as well. After a late start, sound check problems, a two-hour sound check for the main band, which didn’t leave time for the other bands check and only one mic. being allowed for this opening band whose sound usually relies on several backing vocals, which I have to say, they use to good effect – even their drummer puts in some backing growls from a headpiece mic. so it was a shame they couldn’t fully realize this potential. They were just finishing off their sound check when the doors opened!
Quite nervous and with a few technical difficulties they managed to swing a good performance, going I felt for the more heavier of their songs including some from their C.D. also out on pure volume in which their singer managed to get a plug in. It seemed to go confidently fine and cheered me up seeing them all play so well and how far they have come since they started.

Another reason why this gig was pretty special was because one of my favourite Luton bands DILATE were on the bill also. Iv seen how good they go down on their home turf and wanted them to raise a storm here as well. This they certainly managed to, with the ability to demonstrate some pretty skilful lead guitar work. Vocals with that double edged singing style of having both melodic and harsh tones adding the passion to their repertoire and what seemed like a few anthems like ‘Circle’ and ‘Stitch’, of theirs that went down a storm with the crowd; you could see the level of touring experience cutting through sharper than the large clawed ring that their singer was wearing.
Their drummer looked the part also, - looking somewhat like a famous rock star with good heavy drumming with all the subtlety of a crowbar in the door lock of a Ford Capri.

Headliners next BREED 77. I must admit it was the strength of the backing bands that I came to this gig as… shame to say, was not all that familiar with this band. They only have a few samples on their web, which sound fine and left me only wanting to hear more. They actually have an album coming out later this month, which on the strength of seeing them live should be worth getting (you can tell I like this band already). It was a sell out show and if you were there on the night you already know how well they went. The songs have a good balance of not all sounding the same, electric guitars were swapped for acoustic on some of their songs, allowing a wide range and subtlety in with the roaring gallop of their other stuff. I’m not going to bother trying to compare them with any other bands as they deserve the uniqueness that they themselves display. Some of their stuff seemed like standard rock but good standard rock nonetheless, while other songs included various mixed influences and I’m not just talking about other bands more like the sounds from other country’s, especially with an almost flamenco acoustic slant to the Spanish style guitar effects in places, and with a five string bass adding a lot of depth. Even one of the Smoking Hearts managed to rush down in record time to see them after playing a gig in the south of Bedford. There wasn’t a lot of banter with the crowd, which would have been welcome, they put on a good show though, leaving people waiting after with C.D. covers and anything else for signing. I’m glad the band didn’t keep people waiting too long as unlike the Bedford people they wouldn’t know what the bouncers are like and any longer, the band would have just met with a cleared room.

Keith www.bedfordmetal.tk