Bedford Alternative Music Presents: The Thursday Showcase.
Embrace The Tide, The Rusty G's, Kill The Image, Sever The Strings.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Thursday 31st March 2011.

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

Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2011.

Late additions to the line-up THE RUSTY Gs were a scoop to have on, my first thought was how amazing their sound is when you consider there are just three in the band, yet are producing a staple diet of rock at its best, with some grunge influences, especially coming to the fore with their Nirvana cover. The energy fuelled way their guitarist moves around immediately kills any notion that they are boring performers live and show a great balance of music and performance ability to an uncompanionably high level. I couldnt help thinking of AC/DC with the way their guitarist moved around. This band look as though they would comfortably play a big stage or a small venue alike and put on a great show at either. This was their first time in Bedford and they were most welcome, a case of good rock sounds, performed well.

After an entire night of this type of music on Lev one last Saturday, it looked like a case of oh no not again, but this being a mixed line up of styles and tastes made EMBRACE THE TIDE seem a more welcome and a fresh addition, especially when you consider just how well they played, looking on top of their game throughout.
Of course the obligatory quarter length trousers must be worn with this type of music, like a hardcore uniform, I thought it was good that the vocals were more discernable and just seemed pleasingly refreshing to hear his particular vocal style, instead of the more guttural growling and roaring you get with a lot of bands of this type, perhaps theyve invented there own style Id call it pendulum core as their heavily tattooed singer continually paced like a clocks pendulum across the floor and back, as regular as a pair of windscreen wipers on a car and were easily able to stir upstanding, up front excitement from the crowd.

KILL THE IMAGE seemed to be the band that raised the most attention and enthusiasm from the crowd on the bill. They had the best drummer on the night (and youngest) twirling his sticks in a gymnastic way between knocking hell out of the drums with perfect timing and rhythm a total contrast to bands on the scene who just tap out a repetitive beat to bore the pants of anyone listening to them live. As well as some new songs they also have a new bassist who played particularly well, their previous bassist was also in attendance to see the band play. As well as some noticeably awesome guitar work from their main guitarist its good to see he likes to thrash about while playing, adding a lot of movement to the performance. Further guitars are provided by the lovely Lisa on vocals also; sung well but I always feel should be more boosted to match the vim and vigour or the music the band plays for it to go with. This is a band fully capable of generating some excitement when performing live. Look out for a new C.D. coming out soon too.

Even their sound check was good to listen to, with a Metallica song which Im sure they didnt do on their set and even a cheeky few bars of Summer Loving thrown in. Getting back to their actual set SEVER THE STRINGS another three piece which makes you wonder how such a great sounding sound can emanate from just three players. Its quite technical and well played, not much in the way of crowd interaction though, more in the line of just getting down with it. I was pleased to see Diamond Heads cover of Am I Evil thrown in but it was short lived when they cut it just before it gets to the amazing guitar solo. Also covered by Metallica, you can see where their influences draw from. It was more a sort of have a go singing rather than any stand out singing capabilities with more emphasis being put on the shoulders of the instrument playing abilities of which they do quite well. Sever The Strings have a professional attitude and are a no nonsense metal outfit always ready and willing to put on a great show. Nice funky green and black drum kit also and good to see arrived and set up early thanks guys.