Bedford Alternative Music Presents: The Thursday Showcase.
Reversal, F.S.I., Rubber Cindy, Dead Cells.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Thursday 24th March 2011.

More videos of these bands on this night on the Video Page.

Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2011.

I have to say, I felt quite proud to be introducing REVERSAL to the Bedford music scene, with their intelligent style and mature approach to their music, a case of old heads on young shoulders. It just made a change to see a young band with their style of music. They all seem consummate musicians as opposed to just having a go at being in a band because other friends are, and are a band that I would easily recommend. Ive never seen a band whose songs vary so much from song to song and vary from classic rock, Quirky stranglers like number and even a Bahangra Indian like beat to one of their other songs.

They have keyboards to enhance the sound, vocals I thought could aim to be a bit more in tune in places but musicianship with regard to instrument playing is quite faultless. This was actually the only band on the bill that I have seen before and had caught them earlier in the year at Lutons Hat Factory venue. With their wide age ranging audience and variation of interest holding styles I really hope this band goes further. They have some extremely well recorded tracks on their myspace, adding to the feeling I get that they take their band seriously and would stick with it and not pack it in anytime soon. A band with big potential and one to look out for in the future.

Probably one of the tightest and best bands at their game I have put on so far in this third of the showcase nights. I know F.S.I. would be capable of attracting quite a following with their technical fused hardcore sound. Their singer reminding me of Bayleaf the gardener from an old kids TV programme put everything in to the vocals while the hypnotically rhythmical bass and beautifully intricate guitar picking made this such a listenable sound for a particularly heavy styled formula. This was all pinned down with intricate precision drumming. Their entire sound seems so professional and signably good, so much so, that I could easily see these getting signed and getting big. I wont say this is my favourite style of music but its easy to see they are in the upper level of their genera.

Filling a slot of a band that pulled out RUBBER CINDY filled the gap and were by contrast the odd ball on the bill. Not that I wanted an all same style gig at all. Its up to the bands to take over the night and make each slot their own and bring or wow fans over in to enjoying them. Handsomely clean-cut and indie student like, with pointy shoes, tight trousers and a Jon Pertwee jacket, Rubber Cindy didnt quite recover the night from the thrusting energy of the previous band. Awkwardly sounding off kilter vocals, repetitive bish bosh bish bosh drumming and feet together shoe gazing doesnt quite lift the boat out of any entertaining indie waters for my liking. Defiantly not to say that they lack any ability because instrument wise they have the skills and talent to deliver a consummately good sound and just because I personally do not favour their particular type of music, it in no way means they were not any good. The night just seemed to loose its way and audience interest. I heard they once played Bedford before with Betaboy one of my least favourite and most boring of local bands. Not quite reaching that nadir, Im sure Rubber Cindy would fare well on an all indie night, good at what they do and not their fault, just not my sort of sound played well by these rather cool guys.

With a seemingly mass exodus leaving about three fans and three regulars, pub rockers DEAD CELLS didnt really attract the enthused crowds we have been having on these nights so far. Almost as like playing a gig with an England match on in the next room Dead cells gave us quite a great sound though, which to describe in two words would be classy rock! What a great drummer, he was so tight and well played, good bass line from their female bassmeinster and some rock out guitar work putting energy and movement in to the mix. With sweat running through their front mans beard you could tell he was passionately putting everything in to the vocals also. Quite standard fare, but played as though they had been a band much longer than they actually have. Anyway Im going to keep this short as theres probably less people reading this than actually watched them play which was disappointing because they were after all rather good.