HENRY & THE BLEEDERS
with The Dilenquents, Dirty Parle, Liam Burke.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Saturday 29th December 2012.

It was just like the old days at Esquires as Henry And The Bleeders resurrected their traditional Christmas party gig. They used to stage this on a regular basis a few years back, but tonight represents the 'boys' first mainstage appearance since February 2010. Quite a lengthy absence and far too long for this reviewer's liking.

Although we are let down by one acoustic act, we are still treated to a varied evening of music which helps ease the excess of Christmas indulgence. Our opening performer is LIAM BURKE . At present, this keen and engaging young man could be considered Bedford's premier poster boy of punk folk. Taking his inspiration and ideas from Mr F Turner, a rocker turned poet, can they both be construed as the voices of a generation, or slightly boring posh boys? A mischievous thought! Liam is ailing. As with most people at this time of year, colds and manflu are rife. His vocals cords have taken the brunt of it and I just hope that Liam has wisely spent the last few hours drinking the marvellous and miraculous throat coat tea. He combines traditional busking ethos with some edgy and gritty self-penned songs that take in the view and problems affecting twenty-something individuals living in the 21st century. "Down To Danny's" is perfect, while "Sons Of Liberty" is a chest beating anthem. Constantly updating his material, Liam has composed a royal song to mark the forthcoming arrival for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It's cheekily entitled "Lady And The Bump"! "Too Many Babies" methinks!

With a healthy turnout from Shefford, their town's very own DIRTY PARLE certainly feel right at home. They are, as their opening song warns, very "Dangerous". Vocalist and feisty frontwoman Jade certainly shows a lot of leg! She is also mighty of voice and dominates the stage in a predatory way. She is hugely charismatic in a magnetic manner and waltzes, pirouettes and pouts her way through the band's twelve song set. Their own material is laced with a few cheesy covers. Although I somewhat tolerated "White Wedding", I nearly choked on my beer at the awful "Umbrella". Dirty Parle fully embrace spiky pubescent bubblegum party pop punk, always with a large smile and a wide grin.

After a very long gap, THE DILENQUENTS return to the main stage. Thay are almost a local supergroup tonight. Original members Rich (vocals, guitar) and Jason (vocals, guitar) are joined onstage by Matty (Smoking Hearts), Mash (Flesh Eating Foundation) on electronics, and Dazz (Radiating Eyes) also providing some bass skills. They start with an eerie and atmospheric, electronica based intro which then turns into the familiar strains of "Zombie Government". This horror punk band criticlly rally against conformity, expectation and loss. With terrific image, their lurching tempos tumble around. The songs of yore, namely "Midnight Massicka" and "Rotten People" still sound so fresh. It's with the spleen splitting, bowel quaking "Homesick Home" that I realise why we have missed this essential band on the Bedford music scene. The Dilenquents have been exhumed!

Although the psychobilly scene is a very small niche in the Bedfordshire area, HENRY AND THE BLEEDERS have been it's flagship band for the past eight years (on and off). Staying so close to its fifties tradition with the upright bass so prominent, it is frontman 'Henry' with his customary howling vocals and demented dancing that gets virtually all the attention. The multi-talented quartet still possess a veritable musical smorgasboard which we can all feast upon. The crowd move right up to the front and watch the band sweat themselves into a puddle! Although unfashionably cool, they once more endeared themselves to everyone with their Stray Cat strut. From looking around the crowd, the only thing missing was some appropriate quiffs! Their closing encore with The Dilenquents to join them onstage made for a simultaneous xmas and new years party occasion.