CRAVENFEST 2008.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 and 2 Saturday 13th September 2008.

Cravenfest 08 Gig photos

LEVEL ONE

REVIEW ONE - Keith.
Ill soon change that! exclaims Mr. Vernon Lee, when told he looks quite sober before his opening slot and the running order was amended until the gentleman of rouge Irish songs had liquidated his comfortable state of mind to continue. I dont know if this is why entertainment on both levels didnt seem to mesh, with gaps of nothing happening on both levels at once. For those shaken by a gig that tried something new and not relying on the same bands each year the Vernon Lee experience must have been a rock of relief as both songs and in-between banter are the same each gig.

Also on Lev 1 Dannys bar was the popular Rich Dilenquent (as billed) who played a relaxed enjoyable set which included some of his own compositions which I personally enjoyed immensely, it made me laugh when he started a song not knowing if it was he that wrote it, after a few bars in he realized it was indeed one of his own.

Luminaries such as Matt Roberts, Craig Curry and Olivia Holter, separately played entertaining sets and are all consummate musicians and very much on the local scene.

Also on the Lev 1 bill were Steve Day, Paul B Edwards, Kid Charlyman and Ed& Simon who I confess am not sure now, which were acoustic acts and which were comedians who were also added to the fest for a first at Esquires and turned out quite successfully (well who doesnt like a bit of a laugh?). The night drew to a close with the full party sounds of Bowfinger, very bouncy, happy and catchy, just like a big bottle of fizzy lemonade, shaken and about to be uncorked and go down well with a wide range although not really my cup of tea admittedly.

But what of Minimal Damage? I hear you cry. They were squeezed on to the bill somewhere in the middle at the last minute and provided probably the liveliest bounciest set of the day. Their fans could take part at a gig in a wine factory crushing grapes underfoot as they pogo all around to the great ska sounds of this band who have noticeably developed over the year. Their singer seems to now have all the confidence than he did when they first started. We know hes a great front man now, so he can strut his stuff in style in order to entertain.

LEVEL TWO

OK lets go upstairs now and back a bit in time, to Lev 2 where on the Bedford Metal stage was a 3-piece band with the unenviable task of opening. Indy rock styled The Underdosed who wished they had attracted more people and after an understandably shaky start, belted out some well played tunes with an amazingly powerful singing style, putting everything in to the vocals that fit really well with this band.

The Optimist were next with possibly one of the best drummers and most amazing songs and tunes, not so much of an energetic performance, more reliant on their soul grabbing material which makes you want to listen with total appreciation.
One of the best songs from any local band is by this one and having peeked at their set list and knowing when it would come, felt tortured by the technical sound problems before the song in question - 'The Moon' but it got played eventually and this reviewer liked hearing it live immensely. Their band members seem really cool people and have an older ranged fan base enjoying their set also.

One of the best acts of the event who made the intensity crumble and drop after their set as if nothing could compare to such a great act was Side Of The Sky with a sizeable crowd for this band and birthday bash gathering for one of their band members (Happy Birthday Reuben). Classy rock not over heavy, but skilful guitars, a drummer that knows every time, just when to come in and good vocals make this a wide appealing very enjoyable band who I hope to see more of in the future.

Another one of those fizzy party bands now, with The Measure, kind of sound a bit samey but well played and bounces along nicely all the way through.

I had to admire the very real talent from The Delaneys who seem such a competent small bunch of musicians at such a young age, they worked at putting everything in to moving around and playing so well and came over as being quite a well practiced outfit with the drummer standing out as demonstrating a well executed rhythm section also.

Vegas Nerve (biologically named after a nerve in the body) must have felt quite elevated to the level two section after a bout of Dannys bar pub slots, a pub style band with a toe tappy rock sound infused with funk and not the greatest crowd reaction, a case of the wheels turning but the hamsters dead, not bad though, just a bit standard compared to some of the other acts judging by the crowd responses.

The Radiating Eyes were next. Dreary, dull awful and just damn right terrible would perfectly describe the weather last Saturday, fortunately the sun shone for Cravenfest this week and this next band provided one of the best and intense sets of the day. Full of both energy, talent and demonstrateably a fine band. Great guitar work adds to a punk vibed sound whose singer is a powerhouse of enthused energy, both leaping around while shouting out vocals then grabbing a guitar and singing for other songs. I like the way no single person grabs the limelight and each member is allowed to shine, including their bassist who has a turn of singing also in places. It was also their C.D. launch gig which added to their fans attraction. See them again here on stage Halloween!

With a name like Syren, you can guess there were some girls in this band who seemed to play electro acoustic styled rock, played fast and well to a not so busy audience who at this time were probably being wowed by the comedian downstairs.

Showdown City From Wolverhampton next and were a band I had never come across before and didnt even know they were playing until the day and seemed to be quite pleased to be playing Bedford with their boppy pop punk sounds.

Joined by some escapees from another well loved local band Amy And The Integrals have the lovely Amy on vocals and acoustic guitar who never seems to stop or falter just plays on while radiating talent. I cant think how she manages to remember all the vocals while strumming out some belting great tunes with the other members. All good stuff.

HeKz were up next, welcoming Kirk Brandon (a film star name if ever I heard one) the permanent new drummer, fitting in remarkably well and only his second gig! Our singer had some throat problems but did well in reaching the operatic octaves required (good ol flask of lemsip drink). A CD track on Terrorizer magazine and an album on i-Tunes among their recent achievements Live on Cravenfest though, nothing greatly new since their absence, but rolled out the well cloven hoof trodden numbers in energetic style. The only time one of the guitarists stays still is when it isnt his own legs carrying him off round the room during one of their anthems.

It seemed like a double headliner having HeKz then Imperial Vipers taking to the stage to bow out the fourth Cravenfest, with a CD out on 22nd Nov their sleazy rock sounds rasping like a Motley Crue meets Quireboys and singer/front man looking like The Crow from the film. Ive always wanted to see this band from hearing all the hype whenever Im in Luton where they have made waves and caught them at Dannys Bar earlier in the year. The big stage is where they fit better though. They have a basic punk like vocal structure with some heavy guitar grooves energetically pinning it together, while looking as if they live breath and eat rock n roll.

Around 20 different acts of bands/acoustic artists and comedians for a tenner (8 in advance), I wonder if there would have been twice as many people for half the price or not half as many for twice as much? Do people only want to see their friends band then go, or do they want to stay for an all day fest of entertainment whatever the line-up? Is the so called Credit Crunch to blame for not selling out (or is that just a polite way of saying boom and bust Mr. Brown?).

REVIEW TWO - Martin Stapleton.
I am loathe to be critical about any promoter who puts his money firmly where his mouth is, but I'm afraid the 4th annual Cravenfest rather spluttered along instead of firing on all cylinders as it has in previous years. At ?8 a ticket for an event that, this year, is aimed at a young audience, it's not cheap. A typical teenager has limited disposable income which, in turn, has been further eroded by the credit crunch. The band line-up also has to justify the ticket price and on the whole, it fails to ignite a discerning public, who vote with their feet and give Esquires a miss. There's no denying that there are some notable highspots which mainly occur downstairs in the bar.

The soon to be missed RICHARD TAYLOR started the level 1 show in his own inimitable style. Unfortunately, after three cracking covers I had to make my way upstairs to witness UNDERDOSED. To be fair, they are marginally better than the adult-orientated 'dad rock' that is THE OPTIMIST. After being harassed to buy one of their CDs after a previous Esquires visit, we are now being told that they are available for free! I still refrain. SIZE OF THE SKY raise my temperature slightly, but it is not until the arrival of THE MEASURE that I get really excited. Their Bedford river festival performance was superb, and today is more of the same. The funky blues sounds are divine. At their end, it's a trip downstairs to catch LIAM VERNON who starts by giving us a history lesson - 200 years, Botany Bay, heinous crimes! It can only be Verny Lee! This man is as much a part of Cravenfest as the carpet! And no, he did not fall off his stool! With Liam staggering his way back to the bar, the scene is set for Bedford's premier ska youngsters to skank the joint. I'm talking about MINIMAL DAMAGE. The bar's 'mosh pit' is packed with dancing youngsters and it's truly the manic moment of Cravenfest. The crowd go ballistic.

RADIATING EYES are due on next upstairs, kicking off the best part of the day. This young punk quartet turn in a great performance. An urgency and all out attitude is switched on to ignite their fanatical support. Following are female trio SYREN and female fronted Showdown City, who both play to a fairly deserted level 2. To the bands' credit, they put every ounce of effort into their Esquires debuts. Down in Danny's Bar, comedians Steve Day and Paul B Edwards bring the comedy store element to Cravenfest. It's a brave and original concept and it works.

The wonderful AMY AND THE INTEGRALS precede those mighty HEKZ boys, while Dunstable's leather jacket wearing rockers The Imperial Vipers headline with a sweating set. Downstairs, the evening is rounded off by a reunited BOWFINGER. The original line up prove once again that "Everything is easy"!

Review 1 Keith www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk Review 2 Martin Stapleton. www.bedfordesquires.co.uk