Bedford Alternative Music Presents: The Thursday Showcase.
New Fools Club, Cufflink Fumble, Centre Excuse, Subject To Change.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Thursday 23rd March 2012.

Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2011.

Week 2 of the 4 week Bedford Alternative Music Showcase nights and we are off on an indie/rock train track of live music. First port of call is NEW FOOLS CLUB, just what these nights are about, introducing new bands and talent to the Bedford venue. I certainly have not had the pleasure of stopping at the tight and tuneful New Fools Club station before. Guitar, bass and drums make up their carriage, with a giant bassist on track with some great moody bass work, brilliant guitars in places, backing vocals from their capable drummer and noticeably above average up front.
I didnt think there was any main musician that stood out, the bands sound seemed to be made up equally out of all members together, creating their style, seemingly quite standard fare, but ok for a pub gig setting, no crowd up front like the previous week for this first band and nothing outstandingly wow inducing. They just got down and played, delivering a solid entertaining enough set.

It took me a while to get in to CUFFLINK FUMBLE, but when the train did reach the station, I quickly started to get more in to them. Its because they are so different in a totally individual sound, bouncy rhythms, boppy synth/samplers and a sort of cockney wide boy vocals sung to gruff effect, holding his instrument quite high.
Up from Bath to play Bedford. Their very experienced drummer coming from Luton and historically playing these showcase nights several times before in other and quite different bands, back here again with some talented drumming and his Bath uni band members showing the Bedford stationers something different, enjoyable and may I say great success if they can get the music out there and showcase their style and songs. They have a track out on itunes which they played for us to great effect.
Certainly one of the most interesting bands I have seen this year. Thanks Paul the drummer for bringing the band down and thanks band members from Bath uni for making the journey. The Bedford crowd enjoyed!

Have you been to the new supermarket at Esquires? A one day only sale from the next bands extensive merchandise stall (where I nabbed a C.D.) CENTRE EXCUSE came highly recommended just at the right time and got on board the nights gig train. An explosive and energetic fusion and all this from only three band members. Their guitarist kept leaving the staged area for meandering walks round the bar room, making him difficult to keep track of, while their singer put every enthused passion in to the vocals. There were a few sound problems making their usual sound not quite as they would like it to be heard. (for the proper sound get their C.D.) There is defiantly an Enter Shikari sound trying to shine through on some of their songs where the synth fuses with the rock out edges to their tunes. The crowd certainly seemed enthused, especially from the table top drink spilling well fortified fan girl up front. I quite thought they had left after their show but instead hung out in their storage area, it wasnt a BOTB style gig where you dare not support the other bands, so they should have come out to wave a tentacle at the following band, but when on, performed like caged tigers and seemed cruel to confine them to play anything other than a bigger stage area at any future gig.

The next station on the track is SUBJECT TO CHANGE a band who I caught in Luton last year and was pleasantly impressed and felt pleased I was able to meet the lead singer after, to tell her just how good I thought she was. I could listen to her sing all night. They appear classy and sassy, with just the right amount of confidence to the vocals, adding a few covers which I didnt actually recognise and much of their own material. Their other lady in the band added greatly to the sound, but seemed hidden and tucked away with out projecting her self and her talented play.
The main Beatles topped, Beatles mopped guitarist, depending on the song played, alternated from backing strums to his all out intricate guitar picked fills. They have some good, wide appealing material, which is performed all too well.
Man of the match award to their more than competent drummer, playing and turning up on time with the kit. Lady of the match award to their lovely singer, dressed in her Supergirl T shirt, looking the part, putting on an engaging performance and gifted with a good singing talent also. A band with the ability to entertain and go far!

Its not quite the end of the line though, as band members and visitors were invited to embark on to platform 2 upstairs to see Simon Townsend (The Who) to end the night train on the live music timetable.