HALLOWEEN SPECIAL:
Near Moments, As Daylight Dies, Yellowknife Bay, Pirate Radio.

Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. Thursday 31st October 2013.

Seems like Near Moments might be creating some sort of tradition; playing on Halloween. Before I went to Uni I'd throw a party every year, but now all my friends are dotted round the country it's a bit tricky... However, this year my decorations were put to good use as the promoter, Keith and I decorated Holy Moly's at Bedford Esquires a few hours before.
Last year Near Moments played at Nambucca in London, which was great - bar the fact I obtained Tonsillitis and Laryngitis 3 days before... STILL PERFORMED (and I didn't sound like a frog with speech impediments thankfully). The only other difference this year, apart from my good health, was the fact that Near Moments would be headlining! Boy, were we looking forward to that!

The room was packed from the get go, with PIRATE RADIO kicking off the show. A Bedfordshire based, hard rock band, I believe I'd played with them once before (an acoustic set at The Bridge in Shefford). Their Facebook biography describes their sound as "tainted with 90′s grunge/stoner rock mixed with the bravado of 70′s classic rock even with hints of Metal & Alt/Hard Rock"... "driving, sonic beast of huge guitars, pounding Bass & Drums with raw uncompromising Vocals & Melodies". Quite an impressive paragraph and very true. You always know it'll be a good night when the first band on are brilliant (as a vocalist, I must say... quality voice!).

Next on was YELLOWKNIFE BAY , a band I hadn't heard of before, which made me an obvious minority as so many fans came to support. Also from Bedfordshire, their sound was more alternative, modern rock with influences of punk thrown in. There was a mix of lead vocals and their guitarist performing screamo, which definitely added a heavier sound. Although the main singer could also scream quite well I'd suggest leaving it to the guitarist and keeping more of a balance - yet again, it's probably just my taste in style. Definitely want to gig with these guys again!

Before Near Moments were the renowned Dunstable band AS DAYLIGHT DIES , whom we had performed with not too long ago. Another screamo band, these guys definitely give it some welly. When listening to their set you can hear how the band has progressed. This is particularly true after I heard one of their new songs, which they'd only released the night before "Lifemakers/Bonebreakers"... man was it tight! Vid 1, Vid 2