Review Of The Month: FEBRUARY 2017.

Esquires Bedford.

The first big gig in Esquires during February, occurred on Friday 10th, when the venue saw the long awaited return of the heavyweight raga metal Welsh band Skindred. In their long career, this was their fourth Esquires appearance, but incredibly it was their first since way back on December 20th 2003. (Incidentally, they were supported that night by Unitus and First Words) for many in attendance, this particular gig will be regarded already as a ‘best of the year’.
Huge festival favourites and highly respected within rock and metal circles, Skindred put on an awesome and room shaking night. The gig was sold out instantly, with tickets snapped up almost immediately the show was announced. Fans instantly pitch up right at the front and a loud cheer goes up as soon as Skindred appear on stage. Their set pounded and pulsated for well over seventy minutes, the musical result is like being caught up in a white hot maelstrom of punk metal reggae and dancehall, where Bad Brains are fiercely swapping notes with Capleton and Machine Head. Infact, if the competent raga-core doesn’t get you, frontman Benji’s lush, rootsy noise perfect croon certainly will. With a mad crazy rendition of the ‘Newport Helicopter’, Babylon was well and truly burning on this chilly winter’s night.
On the same bill, the all female quartet Joan Of Ark also played here after a lengthy absence (May 2010). These feisty rocking ladies offered up a frenetic and fast placed support slot.

On the following evening 11th it was time to revel with Neville. Yes, I’m talking about the original rudeboy Mr. Neville Staple, who bought his band (which included his wife and voice of Rude Girl Sounds, Christine) to Esquires for the very first time. A popular and legendary gentleman, he walks out in costume to a huge ovation. His new album is called Return Of Judge Roughneck And Specials. Neville is attired in a judge’s uniform, complete with white wig. His near on forty year career in the music business is played out on stage. From The Specials, Fun Boy 3 to the many other various collaborations. Still with a firm finger on the ska pulse, tracks from the aforementioned new album also dominate. Spirits are high within the huge crowd, but when suddenly it does boic over, Neville snaps back by declaring that he will not carry on until the skirmish is ended.


As someone who never bought in to the 2 tone ska revival I decided to venture downstairs to room 2 (Holy Molys) for an absolute treat. I watched the set of Ms Stevie Parker. This 24 year old singer songwriter is backed by her four piece band, which includes a keyboard player. Hailing from Bristol, Stevie performs a short thirty minute set and includes tracks from Blue, her current E.P. speaking rarely, but very quietly, she just lets her songs do all the talking. Although the room is sparsely attended, the crowd are hushed and totally enchanted. On this bitterly cold evening, Stevie is sensibly wearing a black beanie hat which covers some of her blonde hair. Only her white trainers contrast the rest of her black attire. Electro- folk is her musical style, but hints of Florence and the Bristolian trip hop scene of the nineties do bubble under the surface of her material. A much deserved lucid round of applause ends her set of which the highlights included The Cure (Stevie’s first single) and most ingenious reworking of the classic Its Different For Girls.

Wednesday 15th on the mainstage features an absolute coup for Esquires, as The Pad Presents bought to us Chali 2 Na And Krafty Kuts. Chicago born Charles Stewart aka Chali 2 Na is a founding member of the legendary hip hop collective Jurassic 5. This very tall gentleman possesses a deep rich baritone voice and a beaming smile that never leaves his face. Together with the nimble finger spinning vinyl skills of DJ Krafty Kuts, Bedford is very much part of this, ‘The Hands High Tour’, which is taking in UK and Europe.
Tonight is a chance for a good sized, pumped up crowd to “Celebrate the golden age of hip hop”. The duo certainly do go through the long and varied repertoire, which tonight has its roots in ‘old skool’. The inevitable Jurassic 5 segment is also very well received. My favourite moment occurs when they perform Lock Shit Down. The lyrics of this song perfectly summed up this entertaining evening, “We came to just do this for you, sit back and just watch us bubble, we come with more heat than the sun do”. Chali 2 Na and Krafty Kuts were very much Coming Thru on this night in Esquires.

New up and coming guitar bands came to the fore on both Friday 17 and Saturday 18 with varying degrees of success I felt. Firstly, Glasgow’s Catholic Action impressed enormously in room 2. Its refreshing stuff from a rock n roll band who know how to put on a show. Seventies glam rock, sharp, precise indie and even some dreamy psyche out stuff, mix with some obvious comparisons with fellow Scots, Franz Ferdinand. Led by vocalist Chris Mc Crory, they contain a frontman of whom it’s very hard to take your eyes off, not quite knowing what he is likely to do next. His fashion statement is ably demonstrated by his short in the leg, ankle exposing trousers! Their single Rita Ora is the best known of an enjoyable set of songs. Also on the bill were a Manchester band called The Black Goats, whose highlight occurred with Loaded Gun.

Returning the next evening were InHeaven. Sadly a rather flat and limp set, was a huge disappointment to someone who had witnessed their riveting Esquires show last year. Infact they were rather blown away by the grunge fused noise merchants called Freak. The band is the brainchild of Connar Ridd who at present is making ‘cake’, the modern buzzword in modern rock. Also of note on this particular night was the sensational song What Happened.

The popular Sunday afternoon sessions had two afternoons of excellent highly skilled blues rock. Producing their own concoction of original material, was firstly the European flavoured Wang Dang Doodle on 19th. It proved just how much they are loved in the Esquires bar. On the following Sunday, 26th Catfish unleashed tracks from their brand new album Broken Man. Highlights from an enjoyable visit were Never Go Back and Leading Me On.

A mention also from the month’s music must be made for the always entertaining Kettering metallers Unitra, who hugely brightened up a ‘tribute’ evening for this reviewer on Saturday25

Catholic Action Set List: (Holy Molys Friday 17th 2017).

1. Doing Well/ 2. New Years/ 3. Propaganda/ 4. Breakfast/ 5. The Wash/ 6. Black And White/ 7 Rita Ora/ 8. Say Nothing/ 9. The Real World/ 10. Stars & Stripes/ 11. L.U.V.

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