THE BUSINESS
with Control, Black Maria and Angry Agenda.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Friday 23rd November 2012.

Tonight Upbeat Promotions presented an evening of oi. A derivative form of punk, it originated way back in the late seventies. This genre of music was, and still is, very male orientated. Initially born out of the skinhead movement, it was firmly and enormously deep rooted in the football terrace culture where violence and hooliganism were always close at hand. The bands tonight still wear the T-shirt and tattoos of West Ham United. This form of music has not aged well. Indeed in the thirty plus years since it was conceived, the football scene now (at least in the Premiership) is not about standing on the Clock End and urinating into someone's pocket. Nor is it Dr Marten's and bovver, but very much about money, prawn sandwiches and precious hairstyles. On the whole, punk (thanks in main to the yanks) is also, for better or worse, so sanitised. The oi scene now seems to be cast aside, a bygone age devoid of colour or any real interest. Festivals are perhaps the only chance for the diehard devotees to boldly reminisce about the good ol' days. Bedford is extremely lucky to have a promoter such as Mojo, who continues to give local people the chance, at a reasonable price, to see the best of oi so close to home. Unfortunately, once again he is badly let down by the paying public. Because this gig attracts such a patchy and sparse turnout, one does wonder how many more times this genuine fan is going to dip into his blue jeans pocket. Good promoters, and we have a few in this town, need and deserve to be better supported. Use them or lose them rings true.
The night starts with the appropriately named ANGRY AGENDA . They seriously irk me, especially with their vocalist's tiresome, banal and arrogant behaviour. Yes it's crude. He belittles and insults our sound engineer, which is totally uncalled for and so out of order. Remember fella, the sound crew are like the referees in football, without them we do not get a game or a gig. Their song "This Is us This IsIt" probably sums up their macho and sexist demeanour. In their defence, they would probably say that it is all an act.

On a happier note, it was good to see THE BLACK MARIAS back on the main stage. They prove to be more upbeat and a great deal more fun than our last band. The question is, are you allowed to have fun or do you have to stand around looking suitably 'ard? It's very much the same ol, same ol, but a great deal faster and friendly. Why they even loosely quote Shakespear "To Chav Or Chav Not". Even "Total Recall" contains lyrics borrowed from the past, such as "you're going home in a f**king ambulance". Ah bliss (I'm being ironic)! It could almost be the North Bank, Paxton or Chicken Run circa 1981. Audience participation is minimal. Once again virtually no-one is standing on the 'wooden bit'. Fans - it won't bite you honest! The only two people who are on it both have hair! The last song "Clockwork Army" has a request from the vocalist for everyone to "Dance Like Twats". Sadly the vocalist from The Angry Agenda is not present!

Stealing the show are CONTROL . Superb and powerful entertainment and a terrific frontman. With his dry Scottish wit he amuses us with his between song banter. What about this opening quote of the evening; "shame you didn't bring your friends, och sorry you haven't got any. It's like a Condemned 84 gig tonight". A wag from the crowd retorts firmly "it's better than that". This is bettered by the blond haired vocalist's later spat of "Is that a sheep in the audience cause I haven't had my leg over for f**king ages"! The band continue to cross bases perfectly as their roots are steeped in oi tradition, but thankfully they can adapt for the 21st century. Their 'anthem' of "Punk Rock Ruined My Life" could be every attendees similar thought. Control sate everyone's needs as "Stand up and fight" is a terrace fist pumping action. However, for this cricket loving reviewer, I would agree with the other sentiment "Stand Up And Get A Pint". "Another Mother's Son" is a well constructed anti-war song that is powerfully performed.

For Mickey Fitz, frontman extraordinaire of legendary London oi band THE BUSINESS , tomorrow night is more of a pressing problem than this show. They're playing in Manchester and local boxing star Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton is on a comeback fight. The band cannot get booked in any hotel! This gig is a mere stroll as they whet everyone's appetite before serving the main course with "Harry May". The singalongy oi classic fuels this predominantly male bondong session with lustful arm-raising, fist punching venom. By the way Hatton lost!