THURSDAY SHOWCASE
'Danny's Bar Esquires Lev 1'.
Thursday
Evenings in November, at (The Premiere music venue, Esquires Lev 1 Greyfriars,
60A Bromham Rd. Bedford). (01234 340120) 8:00pm. Free Entry.
THE EVENT
Over November Bedford Metal will be showcasing some
new and rising talent free of charge at Danny's Bar Lev 1 Esquires (16+).
For those of you that think there is no talent or decent new local bands, would
probably not have ventured foot in to the Danny's bar Level 1 Esquires showcase
nights being held each Thursday nights. A chance for bands to showcase their
live playing ability and future potential so that the staff gig organisers can
offer gigs upstairs on the larger level 2 stage. Once they have seen the type,
level and style of music, they can then be more easily assessed for a suitable
fitting gig on a good line-up of other local or larger named bands.
So far, the nights have been going quite well, with several bands going on to a
good line-up gig upstairs.
The Showcase Nights have been running for over a year now, with a break in
between for the world cup. Before that, bands that had gained a gig upstairs had
not really fared all that well with crowd support so the Level one area is a
more intimate friendly area for this starting block. The sound Equipment is
better than you would expect from what is potentially a 'pub gig' with the venue
and audience being more in to the alternative sounds on offer. (You even get
Kerrang or other cable music channels!). Also free entry, 16+ age limit (18+ all
other times) pool table and bar.
There have been many impressive bands so far, - 'Blind Theory' being one of the
first, along with 'Never So True'. Bedford based - 'His n Herpes' got their
first gig here. 'Son Of A Gun' were quite memorable as were young bands 'Center
Of Eruption', from M.K. - 'Falling Sideways', Luton's - Hammerfluff, and one of
the best upcoming Bedford bands - 'Wolf Law' with galloping rhythms, anthemic
tunes and well played guitars forming a different style and much needed slice of
British rock sounds. That gig was also accompanied by an unscheduled 'Smoking
Hearts' guest slot. One Bedford musician got a chance to showcase all his bands
in one night - Carnal, Helminthian and The Dilenquents all on the one bill. In
April 06. Bedford Metal put on the nights for that month and this November has
seen more bands showcased under the Bedford Metal Banner.
THE BANDS
Thursday November 2nd - Springs
Demise, Master Chanjis.
Thursday November 9th - The
Ramblers, with Valen
Tone, and Underdosed.
Thursday November 16th - Sandbuzzard,
with Attika, Stillborn
and Xero.
Thursday November 23rd - Green
Calibre, with Joe Wood and the
Pick up Band, and Lizard Kiss.
Thursday November 30th - Stain
Of Red, with Circlemaster,
91 Pieces, and Alchemy.
THE GIGS
Thursday November 2nd - SPRINGS DEMISE - Punk with more skilful guitar work and a charismatic leads singer who took to the floor space well, moving around, putting everything in to the performance.MASTER CHANJIS from quite a way out of Bedford, took up the area unusually, with a large double bass along with a female violinist forming an unusual act akin to an indy fans wedding.
9th November - Young band UNDERDOSED had their first chance to use the showcase night for their set and put on a show, which made me feel proud to have given them the opportunity to play.
Musicians being just one suitable word to describe VALENTONE, a Bedford band all well practiced with a grunge rock sound. I highly recommend these and hope they get further gigs, they are obviously a worthwhile band with an interest in playing and often take the opportunity of using the weekly jam sessions in town to hone in their sound and gain further live experience.
RAMBLERS are a Pouges like Irish folk/punk band with a front man of pure entertainment capabilities, swirling round and jigging around the floor space while engaging the audience with whit and banter to add to the experience. Tin whistles and an accordion are no strangers to some of their songs making this young band stand out as innovative, inventive and just damn right entertaining!
16th November had Eyes Of A Traitor and Xero pulling out with little to no explanation at the last minute allowing the more gig ready ATTIKA Luton area based, with a keen following and great rock to thrash metal sound, enigmatic and musically talented with a Metallica edged sound, forming another favorite band of mine and reliable enough to step in at the last minute to fill the vacancy (thanks guys).
STILLBORN are a force to be reckoned with. - death metal with fantastic melodic guitars, a 3-piece with so much technical ability, which they concentrate on, over too much movement making them good for a pub gig death metal band as well as a main stage act. Lamb Of God and other decent influences creeping in to their well-appreciated sound.
One of the most reliable, gig ready and enthusiastic bands SANDBUZZARD from Leighton Buzzard - punk with good guitars forming more of a metal style and a drummer as the front man pounding a rhythmic beat while vocally belting some remarkable vocals, with quite a few gigs for Bedford Metal now, - I hope they achieve an Esquires placing soon!
Thursday 23rd November LIZARD KISS were eager to get started and enjoyed the practice before their Best New Band heat comming up. Their singer was decidedly more improved and they got through a short set before the band and their fans flew like thieves from the building. Erm yea cheers for sticking around guys!
BOTB entrants GREEN CALIBRE played a class set. They should be signed. They are so good to listen to, quite an adult sound and not too hard to imagine albums and radio play coming their way. JOE WOOD AND THE PICK-UP BAND provided something quite different, harmonicas and guitars forming blues classics with crooning vocals to get your toes tapping, the comfy new lounge chairs in the pool area proving just too comfortable to come forward but nobody was denying their great sounding style. More next week, its the last one hosted by Bedford Metal so come down and make it a good one.
30th November saw ALCHEMY - with one band member dressed as Rupert Bear in red top and yellow scarf and an improvised set of session style well played demonstration of rather good musicianship. With two brothers recently left the band the pieces have been successfully picked up by Alchemy - still able to turn music in to gold!
Other PIECES - 91 to be exact, coming on since their early gigs under my description of one of the towns worst bands I've ever heard. - Don't listen to me though, a lot of people seem to like them and turn out to hear them, although one of the other bands had a stern word for having put them on with their bill! It's a gig to make a trying start on the scene though and have some enthusiastic entertainment value from this punk 3-piece, not your poppy punk drivel though more in-ya-face traditional sounds coming at you like a 3 piece jack-hammer.
My favorite of the night next with CIRCLEMASTER amazing vocals and drumming help to make this band who I was seeing for the first time go down well with my personal tastes, quite a professional sound, going to have to see more of these!
STAIN OF RED next from further a field and a good slice of metal, good sounds with just a bit of tightening on vocals needed to further their appeal. Top draw drumming and guitars though. This drew to a close the November showcases put on by Bedford Metal. Not the end though, look out for more hosted by the top promoter and Thursday soundman Mr. Paul Craven at future Danny's Bar Showcase nights.
www.bedfordmetal.co.uk