Robed In Desire, Twin Graves.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Saturday 13th March 2014.

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of Robed In Desire, Bedford's premiere (indeed only) dark goth punk exponents. Tonight in the bar the fellas are playing the first of many celebratory gigs planned for this special year. Although first forming in 1994, the quartet soon split up after a few eventful years before getting back together again in 2011. They are fronted by the larger than life Steve Norman. Throughout the set he acts and moves like some sort of frustrated thespian. He combines the stage elements of Hawley, Cocker, Robb and Argos to name just four!

Prior to opening song "Preacher creature" Steve takes a large swig of bottled beer. He then looks up at the recently painted ceiling with pain and exasperation before expelling said liquid into fine particles of mist. Not a drop seems to land on his immaculately coiffured hair or his stylish jacket and only a pair of cool shades are missing. As Robed In Desire get into their firm musical stride, not a bead of moisture appears on Steve's forehead. Indeed it is only the drummer Alan who is going to, and I quote, "sweat like a rapist" while they perform "Reinvention".

How can I describe what watching a Robed In Desire gig is really like? Well it's rather similar to watching an old, savage, warts 'n all, gun-slingin' Clint western in which the gates of hell open up in the Mojave Desert. It conjures up one thing; a harrowing, gutteral, feudal, stark, lovetorn bloodfest with no happy-ever-afters and certainly no room for sentimentality. Ghostly airs abound; tumbleweed laments with primal outbursts of twisted avant goth. In this town they are musically off the radar with what they purvey. It is such a big difference to the Bedford scene of 1994 when long leather coats, dark attire and a penchant for The Mission or Sisters Of Mercy was not only obligatory but compulsive for the teens and twenty years olds. The turnout in the bar tonight is a flashback to days gone by in Esquires' long history. Familiar people wear big toothy grins on their rapidly sozzled faces.

The older Robed In Desire material takes precedence, but they still apppear relatively comfortable with the newer "Never young". "Stranger dead" is a haunting flashback to their psychotic and scary beginnings. The lyrics grip the room like a craftman's vice as Steve cries out "Oh let me hear you scream some more aaarrgh princes terror". In this sometimes colourless world with occasional po-faced local bands, these cheeky rascals revel in mischief. Flick knife love longs mining a deep seam of semi-noirish Blue Velvet dreamscapes. Guitarists Jon and Steve are the devils in the details tonight. Mr Norman acccepts that the words 'smile' or 'laughter' are not part of the band's agenda as he says dismissively "We're a goth band, we're supposed to look miserable". Otherwise, he adds, "we would not have lasted twenty years". That serious, but accurate, statement is bucked when an impromptu song is conjured up. It's called "Roger" and is a staple part of The Tendons' set list whenever Steve is in residence. Tonight the boot is on the other foot as Jon Tendon is here and it's payback time as he duets on the risque song. The aforementioned "Roger" is also in the bar tonight and much laughter ensues.

Robed In Desire reminisce fondly about the good old days and of the Esquires Beatles nights of yore, although the band preferred to camp it up a bit by finishing with a megamix Abba mashup. Take it from me, Robed In Desire are not mellowing with age, although they have al been recently released from rehab! They still engage and possess the strut to match it with edgy guitars, charging drums and cryptic wordplay. Happy anniversary gents!

It is definitely a rare occurrence to get a band in Esquires bar who have had their musical output pored over and reviewed by the prestigious NME magazine. That honour goes to our guest support slot tonight Twin Graves, signed to the Rough Trade label. Although not to my personal taste, I do feel a tad sorry for both Jeremy Polychronopoulos (vocals, guitar) and Zarah Lawless (vocals, keyboard). This Harpenden duo feature tracks from their brand new EP entitled "Walk in circles" (6/10 in NME) with influences borrowed from a Joy Division, post punk background. This synthetic, electronic and dominating sound washes over me completely. The crowd seem just as disinterested and appear to be waiting for the main event. Their single "Brothers" is, as the rest of the set, confidently performed. Rather strangely, the aforementioned EP is not on sale tonight and there is no other merch. It is as perplexing as their visit here which doesn't really seem to suit the evening's theme.