Play It Loud
Promotions present: Bedford Esquires Lev 2. Saturday 5th May 2007.
'The Return Of' The Ten Year Prospect, with The Culture, Pirate Radio, The
Ramblers and Kicking Kays.
Keith. www.bedfordmetal.co.uk
First gig at Esquires for new promoters 'Play It Loud', and a healthy crowd it
was too. It was certainly well promoted, with flyers, posters and web based
advertisements everywhere!
To say most of the crowd were live music fans would be total bollocks, they were
just fans/friends of certain bands that didn't stay around for the other bands.
Big young crowd pullers KICKING KAYS should perhaps
have gone further up the bill, to retain the crowd not staying on after the band
they were interested in, had finished. The lead singer of this band has a lot of
charisma, with just the right confidence levels and not overbearingly cocky in
front of his large adoring crowd, adding some crowd interaction along with his
vocals, making a good front/showman on stage. Their drummer adds flare also,
always looking in charge of his playing, while their music swings from indy,
rock with a rougher punk edge also.
The disco between bands was that type of bullshit they play on the radio a lot
and kept coming back on while the band wanted to get started, they had to ask
for the crap to be turned off so they could start.
THE RAMBLERS were on top form on this gig, they
certainly don't try to be the same as every other type of band and play best
when in front of a large up for it audience. They started off with the song that
uses the accordion, although I think they should keep that for half way in to
the set just to pull that little extra surprise rabbit out of the bag. I noticed
they didn't use the tin whistles this time - a particular favourite of mine at
their shows. After the first song the band were begging for more dancing from
the crowd up front.
I love this band, they have a good party vibe to their Irish folk meets cockney
bastard songs and when on top form, deserve all the high praise they get.
Must admit I haven't come across PIRATE RADIO
before, with a female drummer putting everything in to it like 'Animal' out of
the Muppet show! They aim for a strong indy sound and are just as badly dressed,
there's even a blue hoddy bearer, providing the guitars. I thought the singing
showed some strength and character and further in to the set they seemed to had
taken it up a notch as they got in to their stride although I didn't feel they
had any material or songs of great merit.
THE (must be indy coz it has a 'the' in front of
it) CULTURE. Were up next; it always makes me feel
that a drummer that wears a tie isn't going to necessarily put much effort in to
a performance - wont he get hot through putting in an effort and want to take it
off?
As with their C.D. which actually grows on you the more you listen, this band
got better and stronger towards the end.
I thought this and the previous band were in no way memorable or oozing
potential, with about as much edge as a barrel. Anyone who disagrees, don't say
anything now; save it till between 2 and 5 years then come back and prove me
wrong and show me all their achievements - signed to a label C.D.'s, gigs,
tours, BOTB position scores, radio play, magazine and radio interviews etc to
prove me wrong.
Most people about around the time of this gig would have seen the clown
emblazoned poster and an appearance of the clown appeared on stage to open the
headlining act, with a back drop in lights (which didn't even go out during a
short power cut!) made up with the bands name THE TEN YEAR
PROSPECT entered the stage and exclaimed "Were Back!".
Has it really been two years? With a free C.D. for visitors to the gig and a
changed line up, they opened with 'Woman Song' 'Chief' and 'Reality Check'. The
new guitarist having only recently learnt the songs, fits in well and gives a
heavier edge to the sound. The bassist stands their and plays. - end of story,
he doesn't move, look up much or perform with any particular soul or character,
whereas the energy is raised through the drummer pouring all over the kit,
thrashing symbols and drums with a stylised effort of controlled manic rhythm,
it wouldn't be 10YP with out him.
Having a short break with his other band 'None Is The Number' the
singer/guitarist remembering all the lyrics and playing well at the same time,
fully demonstrating the bands talent, his first experience of fronting the band
would have been when their charismatic hat wearing previous singer couldn't make
a Battle Of The Bands gig in St. Albans and the guitarist had to step in
(winning that round as I remember).
New and old songs were got through, with 'No Lies' 'Golden Hand' and 'Automatic'
leading up to the memorable 'Medicated'. From a previous C.D. 'Democracy' would
have finalized their show but after smashing down and actually breaking the
guitar till it was inoperable and pushing over the drum kit, they were allowed
to play just one more song. Testament to a good sound engineer who managed to
get all five bands up on time.
The TYP seem to have gone a bit political with anti governments I.D. initiative
flyers but this turned out to be quite a special gig for fans of each band.