Bedford Alternative Music Presents: Stars In Their Eyes (bands come as other bands).
Jam Session, Watch The Walls as Muse, Acidity as Rage Against, HeKz as Deep Purple.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Saturday 2nd January 2010.

Photos and Videos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2010.

Despite some bands pulling out at short notice and last minute additions, I have to admit this was one of the most enjoyable of gigs and for those who remember the Stars nights at The Beds Ath will know what fun gigs these are! To fill an opening slot the cast of Captain Loveguns formed a JAM SESSION featuring Matt and Danny from HeKz and Robby and Fergus who are no strangers to their own jam sessions in town. Various covers were included with Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden being most memorable. Anyone could join this session if they wanted and Ben from Radiating Eyes leapt up and belted out passionately energetic vocals on a Who song in his usual style. If you enjoy improvised plug in and play open mic jam nights visit the Flowerpot on Tuesdays or the Paddington Wednesdays in town.

With hardly any time to practice WATCH THE WALLS as MUSE put on a most awe inspiring show. What a vocalist! A great range and a front man personality who can really deliver, a relatively new member to the band and a real asset. Their previous singer also had a stint on some songs and mainly played guitar with extremely well honed rock out sections convulsing with Led Zeppelin influenced bursts and if that isnt the end of his talent, also gave us some keyboard additives I had no idea he could play, so this was a good surprise and a welcome addition to the sound. Some of their own songs were added to fill the set which in no way clashed, as their own material is particularly strong. I felt their whole set had a certain wow factor demonstrating great musical talents and diversity.

Highly recommended but a poor live recording on their myspace meant I wasnt too sure what to expect from ACIDITY as RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE There was no need to worry though, they made a deservedly welcome main support act. Their bassist looks the part and added mainstay backbone parts to the tunes as opposed to just a background fill, he moved around also, using the stage well, while pile driving well octane fuelled vocals. Their lead guitarist relied more on the intricate accuracy of his playing over any movement to the show, quite static but undeniable talent demonstrated in his guitar work.
With their chosen band getting to no.1 over Christmas, this must have been a great boost - who would have thought! The obligatory Killing In The Name was played. Other band covers were offerd also, including some Metallica and a really good version of For Whom The Bell Tolls, where the bass work prominently stood out forming the brooding atmospherically bass sounds that make the song a classic. I must have enjoyed the set as I felt left wanting more and can see Bedford could well do with a few more Acidity gigs in the new year.

We had a stage invader at one point with an unscheduled song from Rhiannon who was brave enough to come up and belt out a song rendition.

I think some bands that pulled out of the gig got cold feet after not being able to sound like who they wanted to be after the first attempt. I know this troubled HEKZ as DEEP PURPLE on their first band practice, before seeing it all come together after their dedicated second try. On the night all agreed were on top form, giving a mix of spot on and personal flourishes to the classic songs of old rock stalwarts Deep Purple and not all the ones you would expect either. Burn, Highway Star, even the vocal gymnastics of Child In Time were among the numbers exceptionally executed it takes an amazing singer to pull that one off (he even did it while chewing gum in the sound check!) and the operatic demon screams were amply able to do justice.
With a stripy suit and wig adorned by one of their players adding to the show, which was technically and skilfully performed, worth all the effort and time they had put in, as this really was an amazing set. There were a few changes to the usual HeKz set-up, in that one of their guitarists played bass leaving the usual singer/bassist to concentrate solely on the singing. There is always the consummate top class playing from their drummer and their other guitarist surprised me also by adding his keyboard skills to his repertoire.
This really was nothing short of an amazing set of bands and an amazing night. Another one next year?