The Bedford Metal Thursday Showcase
The Final Prototypes, Stimulated Christmas Hams, Abadden.
Dannys Bar, Thursday 21st February 2008. THE FINAL PROTOTYPES - A band that I have been proud to showcase since I started putting on bands. They get better and better with every gig which is always good to see in a young band. From Sharnbrook/Pavenham and influenced by Lost Prophets, Audioslaves, Nirvana, Velvet Revolver, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin and Chili Peppers. Although fundamentally a pub gig, their singer, who has come on in leaps and bounds throws him self in to the performance like a young Robert Plant, contrasting with one of their guitarists whose subdued playing provides a concentrated but accurate guitar section. Their indie/rock sound is now heading heavier, which is just as well as their amazing drummer is capable of knocking out a hefty muscle stretched beat. Thanks for playing at short notice, despite not saying goodbye before going. THE STIMULATED CHRISTMAS HAMS were on next, a kind of punk pop hybrid coalesced from the bands Space Monkey Mafia, Stepping Over Jenny and Grim City. I honestly didn't know what to expect from this band, but hey that's the beauty of 'Showcase' nights - giving bands a starting chance at gig opportunities. They kind of got better as they went on and as you got more used to them. No bass, but two guitars, one of which was their tattooed singer who did remarkably well despite confessing to be burdened with a cold. It was good to see him offering banter with the crowd and revealed how the band got its quirky name - rather like the game consequences, where someone draws a head, another draws a body, another legs etc. , in that they each chose a word to be but together to form the band name. - Neat huh? Their other guitarist with devilishly well chiselled features and well played masturbatory guitar strums, provided vocals also. I thought it was good that the two vocals were in no way similar, singing in a different style with the backing singer adding punctuated squeals to their raw but catchy sound and some quite good tunes also. ABADDEN, not new to playing various gigs, but certainly new to Esquires and even asked for a tour to see the upper second level. They were one of my favourite bands from the Bedford Metal Battle Of The Bands last year, where I first encountered them and we have become good friends since. They have played The Civic, The Ath. and tonight, Danny's Bar. From Dunstable and if I tell you their influences are Megadeth, Children Of Bodem, Slayer, Sepultura, Pantera, Trivium and HeKz then you would be mistaken for guessing they are a indie pop band. Thrash metal with refreshingly good vocals great choppy drumming and amazing guitar work - heavy but melodic, reminding me of a heavy version of a bouncy cheeky Irish jig with guitars, special mention to their new guitarist who had learnt all their songs in a short space of time and adds his own styly to the acoumplished sound. Not just a good sound from my good mate on bass but played with energy fuelled moves as well. A great band and a proper way to end the first of these nights.
lts Thursday 21st Feb, not much has been happening in the bar Thursdays yet this year but tonight Bedford Metal puts on its 4th Danny's Bar Showcase night on Lev 1 Esquires. I have to admit to being a bit worried about this first of 5 Bedford Metal gigs, I seem to have lost contact with the band bringing and sharing the drum kit, its always a relief when the band in that appointed position turns up, it means the night will defiantly go ahead - 'worry over', their lady drummer did turn up on time though so all was well. The next problem was the opening band, heavily advertised as 'At Sunset We Rise' with a poster too good not to use, pulled out at the last minute. If a band messes one of my Danny's bar gigs up - they go right to the bottom of my play list pile. Finding a replacement slot was strenuous to say the least. Shadow Realms who couldn't make their planned date felt they were not ready as a band to do the gig (pity as I was really looking forward to seeing this band), Pariah who have been asking me for gigs for a while also said the same. Slave To Nature who was gagging to play with their friends Abadden on the line-up were although played before, were now not available, but said they could do an acoustic set instead - to which I said "Yea that would work great" Then they had to pull out of that! Argggh! The problems of being a promoter!
A big thank you to my lil Asian friend Jason Palmer for help sorting a reliable and big favourite of mine for the opening act -
Deciding not to headline on the night pluckily titled
The night ended like a true headlining act, a stadium performance style from the mighty
Thanks to Pete Burrage and Paul Craven for the excellent sound.
Review by keith. www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk