Bedford Alternative Music Presents: Indie/Rock Night with REVERSAL, LOLA, NEAR MOMENTS and TIME WELL SPENT.
Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Friday 31st August 2012.
Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2012.
Bedford Alternative Music are always there to give fledgling bands a chance for exposure in Bedford. Normally concentrating on the more heavy genre, tonight is principally an indie show.
TIME WELL SPENT, although dogged in their determination, are more than a little handicapped by a few technical problems. They begin with Valentines Day, but it seems to be Jigsaw that gathers most crowd participation. The band sense this and boldly announce “You know this one”. Slowly but surely, the audience raise their arms and handclap furiously. Also of note, is the bands keen and eager promotion of their single Be Around Me, too often there is nothing to purchase after an impressive set, so full marks to Time Well Spent for a bit of self promotion.
NEAR MOMENTS are probably the heaviest band on show tonight. They produce an electrifying and confident stage presence, with some powerful songs to boot.
Wow! What a combination when it comes together, the only slight disappointment is front lady Adi’s lack of her renowned violin usage. It’s curtailed unfortunately by it being out of tune! She profusely apologises but it is only a minor setback of this otherwise enjoyable set. Adi also works the crowd so well. Her stern words are definitely needed, because surprisingly this young audience are all standing well away from the stage. Our sassy vocalist urges everybody to step forward by saying loudly. “We don’t bite, well it’s only the bassist that bites!”
Her organisation of some ‘gentle’ mosh pit action warms everybody up, its small but quick and a good spectacle. Song wise, they leave the best one for last. (Their words not mine) Too Much is also the newest one in their collection.
Also impressing are LOLA, Luton should be proud to own them. A recent support slot in their town to Babyshambles and the Smoking Barrels must have given them a huge shot of confidence. What Lola lack in size, they more than make up for in effort.
From start to finish, they are brimming with pretty indie pop wistfulness. Grasping the parochial strum and influences from so many bands of the ilk. A cover of You Look Good On The Dance Floor may give a big clue. Hormones and ideas are raging through their collective systems like rabies. Fizzling dynamics are allied to such an innocent wide eyed enthusiasm. They shimmer and jangle so well.
From Profit To Profit is “about new ideas and taking them on”. Last song title The Futures Not What It Used To Be is borrowed from the King Blues and features on their impressive three track E.P., free of charge this evening. A true bargain.
Catching up with Luton’s REVERSAL is quite a surprise, nay, it’s a shock! Last year I watched their gig here and was very impressed at their genuine originality of material. Also the album they made called The Society Of Portly Gentleman was easily my favourite local album of 2011. After line up alterations, their ‘magical’ keyboard player is gone and so is the originality. After witnessing the efforts of Near Moments and Lola I was slightly subdued by Reversal, musically they had no faults tonight. Itsy Bitsy is a new one and humour also played a big part of the set. Firstly they did a song that should be entitled Cocaine Caravan. Also in tribute to Lola they managed to mix in the same Artic Monkeys song we heard a little earlier. Respecting music, they also played a decent cover of the Beatles ‘Come Together’. A second viewing of the New Reversal is probably needed to give a fairer judgement.
Time Well Spent - Vid
Review by Martin Stapleton www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk