Doubting Thomas, with Parker, Pandemonium and Centrifuge.

Bedford Thirst Club Esquires. Friday 10th September 2004.

After the low turnout gigs of August. The September season on two consecutive Fridays has been host to two packed out nights. Last Friday was no exception and filled to capacity, with two young bands drawing a large percent of the audience. Still at their upper schools which in its self is a machine for drawing their friends and interested parties to come down. With coach loads and people stuck in queues, the night kicked off with a totally unpredictable line up order, starting with….
CENTRIFUGE. who travelled down from Stoke and bought to the attention to the Bedford scene by friends in Pandemonium. They have a powerful vocalist who not only manages to hide his ‘ooop north’ Stoke accent but also belts out a powerhouse of straightforward vocals without turning to unnecessary effects – just lyrics sung well! I thought their sound, though classed as difficult to describe at times, had songs like ‘Stand In Line’ for example reminding me of some of Voivod’s progressive side. Their female drummer – unusual in most bands, knocked a steady beat to this packed Esquires gig, they have a great individual sound and showed themselves to be full of potential.

The first of the younger bands were next PANDEMONIUM. They started quite egotistically with an avant-garde instrumental. No pop punk happy catchy fodder, a thinking mans band best understood by an amalgamated union of philosophers, sages, luminaries and other proffesional thinking persons. Their music goes off in all directions and time swings like a cross between a trip to the North Pole via Australia, and a badly aimed rocket flying down the wrong leg of the trousers of conformity.
One of their earlier songs sounded as if hooters were being added into the mix, with singular plucks of the guitar strings punctuating the riffs, after a while I had seldom seen such a turn around ; apart from a dedicated line at the front, the people behind then started loosing appeal and were turning round to talk to each other and loosing interest with what was happening on stage. A great avant-garde, atmospheric sound, which would make a great C.D. but lacking in capturing an engaging live party atmosphere (that was saved for the more poppy punk headline). They had one of the best drummers of the night, playing with eyes wide open larger than air craft hanger doors and just to annoy anyone wanting to quite classify their sound, their coolly clad singer/bassist sings in a style that you wouldn’t expect with the rest of the band to go. In a tone not to dissimilar to his bass guitar and is distinctly individual – I wonder what influences from other bands create this (Ill have to interview them sometime). There’s a recording of this gig in the media section of their website – www.pandemonium1.tk
Their brown shirted guitarist this time not bringing any toys for the crowd to throw back at him, played with a talented verve and at times seemed to be giving stage directive to the other members, making me think they hadn’t quite practiced, whilst turning round to stare at drum drum boy with his enthusiastic beats which over-enthused even harder during ‘Final Complication’ – a song that the band hates, as its not where they musically are at the moment, but to a crowd shuffling awkwardly, perhaps wanting to jump and mosh around more, were finally given a chance to do so, whilst having fun along the way, compared with most of their other material which although not seeming to be participatingly happening live, still demonstrates what a band sounds like when music and intellect collide.

PARKER. seemed to be the most practiced, tightest band, it all seemed to flow together nicely, with some really good listenable songs. Another reason that allows me to feel that they are used to playing live and being well rehearsed and familiar in what they are doing, was that I noticed even the people in the band not actually supposed to be singing, knew the lyrics and were singing to them selves while playing.
Their vocalist complete with tambourine were able to recapture the party feel left over from the first band and engaged the packed audience with ease in having the skill and showmanship to do so.

I somehow didn’t expect DOUBTING THOMAS. to headline, but it turned out for the better, as it kept the crowd that were down to see them to stay till the end and although not strictly my type of music and I also hate it when band members wear ties. (right that’s the bad points out of the way). They won the crowd over, put on the party atmosphere that the young crowd seemed to be yearning for. So I would have to say “fair play” to them. You would be more likely to leave the gig in a cheery mood after these headlining. I liked the way that the front man with enthused confidence, found it hilarious at the amount of mistakes they were making. – No we didn’t care either, who did, - hey its live dammit! Just enjoy it. Concern was shown by the band however when it was discovered that contrary to what he thought… a guitar string hadn’t snapped during a song.
A ‘Rancid’ cover was employed in their set at one point. A bit cheep for a headlining band to be doing covers but it catered for their audience none the less and what with some fantastically cool drumming, Birthday announcements, sweets being thrown in to the crowd, adding to the party vibe. This was actually their last gig, and although not smashing up their instruments and amps at the finale and despite being the tie wearing, pop punk, cover doing, mistake making, sweet throwing, punks. - Still new how to party.

Check out the 'C.D. Reviews' section for a look of the latest Centrifuge C.D. reviewed by Craig Sharp.
Also see 'Interviews' section for an interview with Centrifuge.

Gig Review by Keith www.bedfordmetal.tk