SIRENIDE, with COARSE, THE NEWTONES and GAIN.

The Beds Ath. Wentworth Drive Putnoe Bedford.

Friday 24th March 2006.

Bedford Metal live at the Ath. Goes Indy with free copies of the NME laid out on tables for visitors and a stylish Rock/Indy/Rock/Indy line up, kicking off the night with GAIN a true Bedford band who have made great progress on the live local scene. Their whole sound just sounds right; with good guitar work accompanied by vocals that seem just precise for the band, giving it a unique yet widely accessible and wide appealing sound; whether they play their own material or work in a few covers - the whole thing comes over with a fluid quality that this band can achieve and craft it all together to make an experienced sound that various ages are seen to enjoy together, whether they are rocking out on the dance floor or nodding and tapping feet in the distance. There were fans of the band along with people that must have been seeing Gain for the first time. With everybody obviously enjoying the opening set so much - it shows that Gain are doing something right!

THE NEWTONES , I'm quite pleased to be associated with this band, they really push themselves to get recognition, with free C.D.'s given away at gigs, wanting people to witness for themselves what they are so proud of achieving. Self confessed indy fans, playing an intelligent sound although in some places slightly out of tune and needing to tweak their guitars on stage. There was a noticeable U2 like jangle to the sound, along with an angel's quire of vocal quality. They are a relatively new band but have already totted up a few gigs in both the south of Bedford and the south of England; even some out of town promoters had come down to see this band, even a Bedford venue accusing bands of "prostituting themselves" by playing all the venues U turned and then asked this band to play for them! (so would that make them the pimps?) Their singer/guitarist no stranger to the musical art, having been in a previous band, put a lot of effort in to the performance, as did the singer/bassist - both brothers and working well together on set.

A bit of a line up change from when I last saw COARSE , pure rock from dedicated musicians with passion to the vocals coming out from under his woollen hat, what a voice, with power and fervour in the delivery. This band are also competent songwriters and have some really great material to showcase at gigs. In addition to their supporting fans, there were also people seeing these for the first time and it was good to see that they gained a healthy crowd response and respect from the audience. They seemed to fit in to this bill well. I didn't feel that any band outweighed the other and all contributed something to the evening.
This band not only have good songs but good guitar playing as well - rock with bursts of metal, producing good sounds with Maiden like riffery!

Not so much of a pigeonholed sound to SIRENIDE , with more of a unique approach and if forced to sum them up with one carefully chosen word, would go for "Quality". They are a kind of ripped jeans sleazy/glam sounding ensemble - 'Josey and the pussycats with a tight rock edge'. They have an extremely tight and well-performed male drummer, with three rather talented and good-looking ladies up front. The singer not weighed down holding a guitar is able to not only sing well but also put a lot of energy and movement in to the show. You simply just couldn't fault her.
They have a main guitarist who when you get used to rocking out to their enjoyable sound, suddenly pulls something extra out of the hat, by demonstrating an amazing guitar riff. He stands back and performs like a bassist and could really do with pushing himself forward more. He really is a great guitarist and it would in no way come over as big headed if he put a bit more movement and showmanship in with the performance.
There was no denying that there was a great crowd response, even more I thought from when I have seen them at other venues. Sirenide are quite simply 'a class act'!.

Keith. www.bedfordmetal.co.uk

A review has also been sent in from Bryony Shipston of the Coarse gig. -

Well, I feel truly ancient today, surrounded by moody young whippersnappers as I am. This is the all ages Bedford Metal sponsored night showcasing local talent. This evening represents a great thing as it's important for communities to support their local artists but yet again I haven't reviewed the other bands as A; we were late, and B; the ones I can hear from the car park were pretty much the same brand of dull Suburban Punk. Plus I wanted a drink. Keith, who, God love him, works tirelessly with the indigenous bands of Herts and Beds, a true philanthropist and a decent chap, takes the stage. "The first time I saw Coarse it was at Danny's Bar, they weren't even playing upstairs, and I even still have the cassette demo they gave me, the one with the South Park intro (at which point Alex whoops loudly) aha, I see even their old bassist is down there! Anyway, I've known these guys a long, long time, it's an honour to share the stage with them, the fantastic Coarse!" It's a lovely intro and one I know the band will feel really good about so they waste no time and kick straight in.
I feel seriously out of place here in a turtle neck and pashmina amid the skater tee's, high top vans and adolescent skin. When did the kids get so tall and hairy? I don't know why I feel so conspicuous, it's ridiculous really but being around so many under-agers makes me feel overage! Still, I battle my self-consciousness and resist the urge to stand at the side and watch everything happening from the wings.
One thing that I really do like about the underage crowd is they are much easier to reach than the 25+. It's often the case at gigs that, especially in bars and small clubs on weeknights rather than big shows, a bands core audience will stick around to see their band then buggar off to scowl at whoever comes next from behind their watery pints in the corner. It's not until I almost skewer some young things kidney with my fountain pen (by accident!) that I realise for the first time in a while I'm being rather violently jostled around. In the time it's taken for one song I've been filtered back about four rows! It's 50/50 gratifying and frustrating for me but Coarse need this. They need confirmation that new crowds do exist. Sometimes your peers are the hardest to please, I remember being 16, so desperate to find that band that I could pledge my undying allegiance to, that wound me up and gave me itchy feet. Then I found Coarse about 5 years ago and perhaps it'll take a newer generation of 16 year olds to find them big time.
The soundtrack to the melee is outstanding, despite initial trepidation after the sound tech needing Rob (drums) to help him mic up the stage, it sounds great. Coarse can cope with a certain amount of crunchiness from the speakers and the rumbling bass lines travel well through this low-ceilinged oven of a club house.
They play an abridged version of their usual set, luckily they are not one of these bands that take half an hour to build momentum. Bodies are being tossed about and felt up in a mini-pit that endures the set and I have to shove a fellah-me-lad half way across the room after he makes a valiant attempt to break my toes, but I'm not annoyed, just elated to see an audience that are un-jaded enough to do what's required for a rock and roll band and surrender to the moment. The band have wicked grins on their faces, feeding hungrily off young blood. Rock and roll is not dead, the music press have tried to pick it apart like the vultures they are but it lives on in this band and this crowd. I love them and want to give each of them a big kiss but that would be entirely inappropriate.
The boys thank the audience profusely, exit the stage and Keith wanders back on. "Okay, that was Coarse, I've seen them so many times and it's great to see so many young people who can't get in to other places rocking to Coarse. It's so hard elsewhere for anyone underage to see great bands which sucks." Then he dutifully plugs the CD (much better than the band did!) and makes way for the next act.
This has been an uplifting experience and has reminded me what it felt like to go to gigs at 16 or so. The band love the crowd, the crowd love the band, Coarse loves Keith, Keith loves Coarse. Feel the love people.

Review by Bryony Shipston.