Dois Padres,
with Gwinny, Berd Renolds (Radio Decade), Chris Williams.




Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Friday 23rd September 2017.






Tonight, Bedford Alternative Music (BAM) hosted an acoustic night, plus a pop up craft shop thrown in for good measure. More of the latter a little later on in this review.

Tables and chairs adorn the room and as adding a degree of ambience to the occasion, lit candles are to be seen. Promoter keeef wearing his wearing his health & safety badge and hat, advises the audience not “to burn yer fingers!” Opening the show is CHRIS WILLIAMS, smartly attired and possessing a beaming smile which never seems to leave his face throughout, Chris builds his set list around a well worn collection of his favourite covers. Chris is a somewhat returning troubadour. A few months ago he left to join the army. However he tells us that things did not go exactly to plan and he badly injured his back. As a further introduction, he announces that his set tonight is to be dedicated to Lauren. Chris begins with Catch Fire by Periphery, he enjoys doing his cover by the progressive metal band, as he saw them live last year. A couple of Ed Sheeran songs are featured. (Perfect & Goldrush) because as Chris assumes, “Everybody likes Ed Sheeran!” Sorry sir you are wrong, as two people at the back of the room can state quite categorically! On a most amusing note, Mr. Williams gets a song mixed up, it’s the one he never fails with much! Laughter breaks out, as he collapses to the floor in utter shock!

Tonight BERD RENOLDS (from The Radio Decade) enters a brave new acoustic world. This gig represents his first solo performance. Berd is a popular member of the local Radio Decade band, who specialise in art post punk. His choice of material is naturally close to home, as he deftly strips down a few of his bands songs. They are interestingly given an alternative slant. Confusion Of The Masses is an early favourite. He performs a cover by an Australian band called Sticky Fingers, this I felt was a most imaginative choice. Red Roses comes from his bands E.P. and is sung in a rather Liam Gallagherish sort of way. This is said in a most positive way, not detrimental and enhances the attitude of the songs. Berd attacks every composition with so much vigour and a confidence that belies the fact that he is unfamiliar with this solo territory. On Dynasty, he concedes that he “can’t rap only sing” Melancholy is one that Berd co wrote with a band buddy, who sadly could not be here tonight. The song concludes with a freestyle finale. He deserves the applause on leaving the stage, out of his safe band comfort zone, he didn’t freeze, but just flowed.

Hailing from Bedford but studying in Brighton, GWINNY is always a musician I enjoy watching live. Two years on the south coast has seen her extended a vast repertoire of material. Musical life is good for her at present, as she has been awarded a grant to help fund her debut E.P. it is to be recorded at The Netway, of which Gwinny reveals is where The Levellers are known to frequent for their album making. She announces the news with both a degree of anticipation and much personal pride. On her live shows, she normally duets with George, but unfortunately this evening, he’s back in Brighton working in Primark!
Some people may say that ‘music is the art of thinking with sounds’ and Gwinny I feel encapsulates that comment. Her songs are both personal and universal. The early composition Casting Shadows is we are told “on the theme of light” Not Now is already a ‘shoe in’ for the forthcoming E.P. she graciously namechecks the late Nick Drake, before performing Travelling Man. Gwinny says the sixties and seventies folk singer inspired her. Listening to this beautiful song, I hope Gwinny finds an album called Just Another Diamond Day, released in 1970 by Vashti Bunyan, this I feel would also offer some inspirationistic picture. The relaxed playing is restrained and often fragile, always intimate. Comparisons of very early Marika Hackman spring to my mind. Contemplative, she easily engages with both heart and soul. I Still Feel closes a set thoughtfully conceived and lyrically stark, its engrossing and immensely powerful.

As I mentioned earlier in this review, tonight is not just about the music. A pop up shop has sprung forth in room 2. The proprietors are R.T.F.P or Road Trips For Pastries, for sale, there are paintings, illustrations and handcraft jewellery. It is under the watchful eye of Danny Young, who crafted much of it. I perused and purchased a few items. Returning to my table, I sat down and watched this most talented musician join forces with co drummer George Cowan. (Jorge) they bring to my eyes and ears, the sound of DOIS PADRES. This duo are the B.A.M. ‘buzz’ band at present. An interview with them is to be seen elsewhere on this website. The genre is normally heavily amped up, fuzzed up blues rock. Tonight it is naturally taken down several notches. Songs that feature on the current Dois Padres Cactus Blues E.P. are given the acoustic and brushes treatment. Bullitt is one such track, their websites accompanying video features the bands canine mascot. A dog mask, which has been strategically placed on stage all evening, much to my total bemusement! A tribute to Freebird is followed by a most excellent version of The Black Keys song Lonely Boy. A song normally entitled Get A Grip is we are informed by Dano going to be renamed Bang Bang Bang! An almost rockabilly lilt as a result of the rebranding. Keeping it in the Young musical family Dano includes ‘Uncle Neils’ Hey Hey My My as the duo’s closing song of the night. With a green CD copy of the bands E.P. ? (a black alternative is also available) in my possession I can confirm to Dano and Jorge that I am your friend! – if you are cryptically stumped by that sentence? Then please do go and buy the Dois Padres E.P. yourself!




(Click here for Bers Renolds Video)


(Click here for Dois Padres Video)



Review by Martin Stapleton. www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk