INDIE FORDE
with The Dilenquents, Dirty Parle, Liam Burke.

Bedford Esquires Dannys Bar Lev 1 Friday 11th January 2013.

It's a new year and naturally there is a quiet start to it at Esquires. Indeed, tonight's gig has been hastily put together at extremely short notice but proves to be worth the effort. A night of local singer-songwriters proffered this thought; you cannot hope to learn to play meaningful desperation or deep soulful melancholy, you have to thoroughly live it. Without them becoming totally neurotic, all these talented acoustic performers gave it a fine shot.

Sometimes a night such as this throws up something completely unexpected. With LEON BRATT at the helm, it certainly did, with his opening song entitled "Chicken And Chips". Personally, I will call this a eulogy to Midland Rd and Tavistock St (lots of fast food outlets there) and is a detailed description of the Friday or Saturday night experience encountered by many. Leon's lyrics are accurate and genius, as he sets the scene for us "get a few cans to feel less sober"! When the evening is at a close and the alcohol fuels the hunger pangs, it has to be chicken and chips, cue Leon "thats what you gotta do when you get home drunk". Coincidentally, someone in the bar tonight is already eating said takeaway meal. BAM promoter Keith cannot resist shouting out to Leon at the end of the song "We have indeed got chicken and chips"! So spooky. With a mixture of covers ("Cannonball") and a heart tugging "Free", it's no wonder that this genial fella was crowned best acoustic live and unsigned act last year.

JONNY MUDD is a mainstay of Bedford's jam nights and this evening gives him a rare chance to play an Esquires gig. His ever smiling face and easy going manner shine throughout. Jonny performs "Love Thats New" which he describes as "slightly more upbeat". To his credit, this was played on Three Counties Radio last month. Amy Leeder joins him on his last song and both of them certainly "Shine That Way".

For me, the revelation of the evening was a gentleman named TARIQ SHAHEEN. Seated, he performs with an ability and a maturity far beyond his relatively tender years. Although he makes an instantly forgettable start by covering "Wonderwall", this is soon forgiven as he introduces "OnceIn My Time". It's a relationship song about someone "living across the pond". This is so from the heart. Seriously, "I Would Fly For Her". With "Girl Behind The Bar" in a similar vein, I am now completely hooked on Tariq's performance. Have you got a cold? Well, "Under The Weather" is about "all the bugs around at this time of year". 'Doctor' Tariq advises us all accordingly; "you got to drink plenty of water". A cover of "Wicked Game" is aptly described as "quite the sexiest song ever". Ah! Who remembers the accompanying video starring Helena Christensen? An Anglo-Spanish song entitled "Don't Sell Your Bed" is simply divine. Mr Shaheen effortlessly combined some mellow guitar playing with good songwriting to produce a smooth and polished performance of which he should be very proud.

Offering us some well written, florid folk pop is sweet AMY LEEDER Nearly six years after the Kempston girl first played here (supporting Love Muscle), she is back after a lengthy spell away from town. Amy, although a touch nervous, seems to have renewed vigour and is happy to be amongst her many friends here. She's full of memories and reminisces about "a gig at the Ath, back in the day". With a confident airing of "Rough Around The Edges" she liberally sprinkles in some newer material, which includes "Best Of Days". It's all her own work, no covers with Amy and she enchants with the lovely "My Last Goodbye". Who's at Amy's next gig? Well, "I certainly will".

Without his band The Vegas, INDI FORDE brought us a mixture of material that contains a soulful funky feel throughout. A reggae lilt is never far away (well he does cover "Redemption Song"). Covers do very much dominate, but Indi is quick to acknowledge that he cannot do many original songs. For tonight's gig he has splashed out and bought some expensive pedals. Indi reflects and admits that he "might as well use them"! Mr Forde finished off his set with a couple of collaborative songs with Jonny Mudd. You sense with all the artists tonight that they all got on so well, in fact a fine team effort all round.