Bedford Alternative Music Presents: HeKz, AR, As Daylight Dies, A Deeper Dreed.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Good Friday 6th April 2012.

Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2011.

At long last and after a number of years of providing such great entertainment. Bedfordshires premiere metallers HEKZ have completed their debut album. It is entitled Tabula Rasa, a ten track musical orgy of all things heavy. Tonight is their official launch party and the room is buzzing with expectant anticipation.
With smoke (a little) and balloons (a lot) it can mean only one thing HEKZ are here to celebrate and party hard. The band needs no introduction to most of the assembled here tonight, comprising Matt Young (vocals, bass) Al Beveridge (guitars) Tom Smith (guitars) Kirk Brandham (drums).
The band arrive on stage and Matt is quick to meet and greet and seize the moment. “Bedford, how ya doing?”. A cheer goes up and Bring The Fire is brought to the fore. “Life is insular and dark but some strive for brighter days and ambition is the spark”.
Although HeKz mix and match their set, this is to be a night where their album tracks are to dominate. As always, their charming and engaging front man is so humble enough to poke fun at himself and the band by admitting that Tabula Rasa has been a long time in the making, he concedes that it has “Took Long Enough”. HeKz have matured, the songwriting is collectively done by the band and has so much bite. They make comment on current affairs and politics, it’s a nice refreshing change, for we do indeed live in troubled times. Vendetta encapsulates this as Matt with plenty of fire burning in his belly explains that this song is about the idiots who are running (or ruining) the country.
Its full of syncopated rhythms and its soaring rock melody career and collide like sonic dodgems of similar ilk is Poison Pen. A song about the ginger bitch and the Australian bloke all connected to the paper they stopped selling. Anyone remember The News Of The World?
With people here from Bedford Cambridge, Luton, Essex even, the atmosphere is electric and special. Towards the latter end of the set. HeKz fully milk the occasion (they are allowed to of course) most notably on Don’t Turn Back. A Pound Of Flesh is the party number. Kirks detonating drums introduce it, then Matt revels in spitting out the words Lie, cheat, steal, spend. Ever the ultimate host, so cool with an angelic voice to die for, he demonstrates an angry streak. Its been an epic ninety minute game with the HeKz team. Impenetrable at times, raging in parts, melancholy at others. Always fun and never ever dull. That’s HeKz!

Support begins with A DEEPER DREED. This Cambridge five piece were last here back in the summer of 2011 when they appeared as their alter ego Maidallica, needless to say Children Of The Damned is featured. Although they try hard at all times, the set does meander somewhat. Frontman Shaun Lotay does possess a great voice, but has too much theatrical posturing, especially wearing some giant white trousers, plus a bodywarmer with its collar up. He does appear to act like a Primark bono.

AS DAYLIGHT DIES happily acknowledge that they are the younger part of the evening. Loosing Grip is fast and furious. Once more its when they attempt some faux Shikari that things do not go to plan. Technical problems can always occur with a lap top.

Cambridge trio AR return to Esquires after nearly a year and are huge fun. The two front men interact so splendidly. Their irrevential odd ball humour works so well musically, their discordant guitars impress. Lotto is named after a hamster called Dave! While they also sing of A large sprout called Bob!
AR play each song as if it’s a competition to catch each other out with constant stop starts, time changes and even face gurning! One has windmill hair while the other is a dead ringer for Duncan Goodhew of a few years back. Crabs contains a falsetto that the legendary Justin Hawkins would have been proud of in his pomp! When there is a problem Can you hear my amp buzzing? Old school ethics mean the solution amounts to go and thump it, tremendous entertainment, these lads can certainly play, even the merchandise is advertised with deadpan humour as they announce Our merch is all the yellow crap! C.D.’s only a pound!

There is a new interview with As Daylight Dies in the Interview section