Bedford Alternative Music Present: New Blood Showcase The Noise Theory, Avenge Me, Atopia, Spacegoat, Out Of The Inside.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Dannys Bar Thursday 30th August 2012.

OUT OF THE INSIDE are a full punk band that I haven’t come across before and after their appearance on this late Summer New Blood Showcase, guess what? – I still haven’t, due to a leg breaking injury they could only muster an acoustic set, breaking us in with an easy running opening act. It must have been quite nerve wracking having to open without their full band set and find songs that they could perform on an acoustic level.
The outfit consisted of two lads on guitars with one singing and dispite short notice for them did a stirling job and did not disappoint. There was an Oasis cover (Wonderwall) included early on. While lesser known material was more predominantly played. Despite any nerves they just buckled down to it, hitting the floor running, belting out strong vocals and acoustic tunes.

Wow what a singer! funkily named SAPCEGOAT belted out some hearty vocals and appeared on this bill as the something different variety on the bill. A vocal sound effect maestro guy produced all backing percussion sounds while keyboards and guitars added to the rest of their funky skippy beats, solid tunes and light hearted easy listening approach to their rather different sound. It all comes together as quite professionally entertaining along with its novelty quality.

At last the drum kit gets some use on the night (and quite a healthy pounding too). From various scattered areas including Bletchley Wellyn Garden City among other places ATOPIA totally hit the mark for me as a band, the sound and reliable personnel; certainly a band that I would like to see again and even travel to see. They have some gorgeously doom laden moody riffs and properly trained vocals for the guttural death like growls. I noticed water and fruit drinks being consumed to help his vocals, further showing their professionalism as a band. The songs are brutal and fast paced, yet at the same time melodic, well honed pounding beats, intricate doomy riffs and a tall wiry vocalist exuding power and passion in to the performance. Sometimes with a lot of bands, this style of vocals comes across strained, forced and as if the singer is just having a go, not in this case though and sounds never more better when done properly as with Atopia. I just feel they need more gig experience to improve their stage presence which I’m sure will happen in time as they are quite impressive at the point they have reached so far.

AVENGE ME seem quite an odd ensemble as I know a few of them from other bands. One of the members incidentally is the older brother of one of the opening act pair.
I’m reserving judgement on Avenge Me as I’m not quite sure what to make of them. I am certainly not going to be deluded enough in to thinking this is any thing new, although in fairness the band are making no claims to have reinvented the bicycle and invented a new sound, unless you only go to Avenge Me gigs and don’t see any other bands live you probably wouldn’t know.
Where as the other bands previously had a strong point in the vocals, in this case their strong parts were the most well played guitars, proper musicians with their instruments throwing us amazing riffs, the overall sound has a lot of brutal energy with some moshers up front, you could easily see a good crowd response at bigger gigs. I think this was one of their first gigs although confident and experienced enough to not come over as looking that new, due I’m sure to their well played guitars and drumming from other bands. Kind of heard it all before but well performed played and good to listen to anyway.

Defiantly an entertaining band THE NOISE THEORY seem to have reached that middle point where their musicianship and playing ability has reached a high level to where they have come so far but just in need of that further practice and gig experience for further improvement that I am sure will only come in time. Sandwiching their set in between their System Of A Down covers which here tonight probably due to the venue having a good sound, came over better than usual, but still making their own material sound and especially sung that much better. They certainly have some good tuneful material of their own, proved I expect by having their bassists own written song going through my mind a lot after hearing. Their vocalist has that on stage front man charisma essential when fronting a band, especially when engaging with the audience between songs. Worthy mention also to their drummer who makes consistently well played drumming look so easy. The set ended on an Eddy Grant cover adding their own sound to Electric Avenue and an upbeat song to end on.