Max Raptor, Fort Hope, Gold Skies Ahead, Making Monsters.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. Friday 17th January 2014.

It's a prompt 7.30 start with the doors opening dead on time. I sense that our opening band, MAKING MONSTERS, are going to have a somewhat difficult task in rousing the few early arrivals. With the onus on them, they take it all comfortably in their stride and by the end of their set have effortlessly won everyone over. Hailing from Derry in Northern Ireland, this quartet possess the natural charm of the Irish. We totally sympathise with their wee female vocalist who is sadly hampered by a nasty throat infection. She defiantly struggles on. Bless her! I openly admit that sometimes I like being mildly terrified by bands and Making Monsters have it in abundance. Ticking all the relevant boxes are a (controlled) screaming vocalist, whose demented howl sits well with this alternative rock outfit, and a guitarist sporting some luxurious facial growth. Ah, men with beards what are they hiding? Songs such as "Instinct" and "Snakebites" vie for favourable attention. A fine taster from this off kilter band that Jagermeister have put on their tours and festivals list.

GOLD SKIES AHEAD are the hometown favourites, although their level 2 appearances are quite rare. Many of their old fans are in attendance, but a rather static reaction to "It's always raining in Seattle" stirs up the enraged frontman. He vents his anger loudly and shouts in exasperation "Give us a proper round of applause you twats"! A too reticent crowd only get more activated when an offer of a free band T-shirt is tantalisingly dangled before them. As this pop punk set develops, firstly with "Ghosts" and then "All this way", audience participation does pick up. Hands are raised in unison to "Green my eyes" and it's an old favourite. The set signs off in style with "The truth in front of me".

FORT HOPE probably offer more questions than answers! This quartet were formed from the ashes of My Passion. They were a local three counties band and Kerrang frequently used to sink their journalistic teeth in. They were also regular visitors to Esquires. Now minus vocalist Laurence and the relevant electronic gadgetry, Fort Hope are also stripped down in the cosmetic department and are much more conservative in their dress code. I was never a fan of My Passion and Fort Hope's dismally bland set fails to win me over. The only plus side is that their vocalist Jonathan Gaskin possesses an infinitely better voice. I'm not sure about the cheesy thumbs up sign that he gives us after the end of a few of their songs.
The whole set rather meanders along in first gear. There's nothing substantial enough to escape the comfort zone. No bite, no edge, no Marmite to the bread and butter melodic post rock fayre. They concentrate on tracks from their recently released debut EP called "The futures in our hearts". This includes the band's first single entitled "Control". They tell us that an album is in the pipeline. Judging by this performance, I'm not sure how longtime fans will have taken to this seismic shift. Was it a reaction to identikit emo or a commercially orientated career move? Who knows, although Fort Hope seem to wear their new clothes comfortably enough on this current project and you've got to admire them for that.

Joint headliners on this Pad Presents show are MAX RAPTOR and, thankfully, they are much more to my liking. This Burton-on-Trent collective, although pop punk based, are rooted in old school sensibilities and are lyrically loaded with cerebral charm. They deliver their package of songs fantastically and armed with a front man who takes the eye constantly. He is forever moving around the stage. This band adopt the arms a-flailing and fists a-pumping approach. The vocalist stares menacingly at a rapidly energetic crowd and barks out "bring yourself forward, I want to see you bouncing".
Max Raptor write socially political songs that have a relevance to ordinary working class people. This is both to be admired and applauded in the current 'pap' musical world. "England breathes" could, I suppose, be misconstrued with a different audience, but tonight's punters are just out to party. The Midlanders sing loudly "waiting for you to react", but Max Raptor need not worry, this Bedford crowd sing along. It's full of people who recently purchased the band's second album "Mothers ruin". The stand out song tonight is "Evangeline" and, like so many from the set, is a full on anthem. Max Raptor rule Bedford this evening with their terrific front man, relentless drum work and all combined with massive riffs.