CITIZEN KEYNE & THE TENDONS.
Saturday 3rd December 2016.. Dannys Bar Lev 1 Esquires Bedford.
Old skool punk made an unusually rare, but most welcome appearance in the Esquires bar tonight. A solid loyal following of fans turned out in force to support and enjoy a brand of music, now celebrating its 40th birthday. Bedford’s premier punks THE TENDONS, of course need no introduction to all those present. Their set list rarely ever changes and all the usual old favourites are aired tonight, infact that’s just how we like it. Their lyrics (Famine) are hardly politically correct, but are not to be taken seriously.
Classic long time Tendons love songs such as F++k Her To Death, Hairy Area and Fishy Fanny are lapped up by the many Bedford Girls in attendance. They roar their approval. Many line up changes have taken place within the band during their long career lifespan but frontman Jon and (at present) drummer Floyd are the constant thread, that is complimented tonight by bassist Jon (Robed In Desire) and guitarist Adam (Henry & The Bleeders). A composition entitled Jonny Don’t Care reminds so many of us of an old certain Esquires rogue. The Tendons, when they play here at Esquires always seem more at home in the small confines of the bar, tonight is to be no exception. It’s a corker, as the quartet spew out fast, loud raucous, rough edged punk! The average age attending is very much middle aged, (or approaching) but as always it’s not a place for this towns many, many Trendy Wankers!
After a very long absence from Esquires, it was most heartening to welcome back MK’s CITIZEN KEYNE. (It’s a double shift for Floyd as he plays guitar in this band). This ‘street’ punk band offer up tons of relevant social commentary and they have always been one of my favourites.
As the Esquires backing track music is phased out, C.K.’s most potent front man John Clarke comes up to the mic and yells out “It’s nearly time!” he admits that its been such a long while since they unleashed their working class punk on the Bedford public. Later on in he concedes that “Your all older (and wiser) but more gorgeous, I’d still flick my custard all over you, blokes as well!”
The punk community is small but very tight knit. Everyone present were very sad to learn of recent passing from cancer of Michael Fitzsimmonds, better known of course as Mickey Fitz, lead singer of oi legends The Business. (famous for their classic composition Harry May) Bedford fans will well remember their memorable Esquires gig back on November 23rd 2012. The entire Citizen Keyne set is dedicated to his memory. The CK songs sped along. We certainly are going manic and Mental! Oi For England, may I suppose, have a dubious title and I dare say some brain dead idiots could attach themselves to it for all the very wrong reasons. If however you are intelligent enough to actually focus and listen to the lyrics, they are all actually harmless. Just join in with the catchy chorus and enjoy yourselves. The song is seriously no blame or hatred in its entire duration. Their social commentary side really comes to the fore with We Know What We Want (this song vehemently points its finger at the government) most people here heartily would agree with its sentiments of “ It’s only getting worse.” From the same punk pod is Ungreat Britain. With the once mighty country now reduced to just a “pile of shit!” A couple of covers prove just how much subtle humour lies beneath their rough exterior. From the sixties we get These Boots Are Made For…! To be followed by the classic heavy metal sound of Breaking The Law! With tip top and true punk values at heart, a couple of other songs are worthy of serious mention Stand Proud sees frontman John reflect that he has “had some great times, most of those with you lot in here.” My World is about oi, all those ignorant people who think “its just about shiny boots and racists,” its not.
Two band anthems are naturally featured CK Army entices nearly everyone to populate the tiny stage, while their singalong ditty Punk Not Fashion.” Just to note, no Christmas party shindig would be quite complete without a rendition of a certain seasonal Slade classic! A fantastically fun night which left some people tired and exhausted at its close! Merry Christmas Everybody!!
Review by Martin Stapleton. www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk