The Thurston Moore Band, Hannah Lou Clark.
Esquires Lev 2 Esquires Saturday 9th May 2015.
In all the years that you have been coming to Bedford Esquires, may I beg this question? Who is the biggest musical icon that you have seen perform here? It's got to be, say. Mick Jones? Maybe Graham Coxon or Evan Dando? I always plump for Wilko Johnson. Of course, its a deeply personal choice and tonight, on our hallowed stage, another legendary name was put into the frame. Esquires bid a warm welcome to THURSTON MOORE. To make things even better, his fellow Sonic Youth drummer, Steve Shelley, is also playing. Also appearing in The Thurston Moore Band are bassist Debbie Googe of My Bloody Valentine (ah, remember their album "Loveless" back in 1991) and guitarist James Sedwards, who plays with Nought. Thurston Moore heard James play rather spectacularly when they shared the same North London residence a couple of years ago. What a truly stonking line up and The Pad Presents deserve a lot of congratulations for getting this prestigious show together.
The first thing that strikes you about Thurston Moore is how tall he is. It deservedly gains him the due reverence he commands. The mic stand is also high, just perfect for him and a smart music stand houses the lyric book. An awe inspiring hush seems to descend over the room, perhaps just in sheer disbelief that Thurston Moore is actually a few feet away. Everyone's jaw has dropped in anticipation. The band then launch into what they do best as quiet meets loud. After this trademark musical tirade, Thurston's next statement is more to the point. His comment appears not to be fractious, merely a distracting annoyance. He begins by stating that the band "have nothing but love for Esquires", however, "it is a little unnerving to concentrate with the squeaking of the hinges on the ladies room door"! Regulars may care to remember that, amongst other things, past Esquires visitor Marika Hackman also found this same problem last month. Luckily some WD40 is summoned to ease the problem. "Speak to the wild" is an awesome performance. As with most songs played tonight, it comes from Thurston Moore's recent solo album (his fourth) "The best day". This composition finds him singing out "The king has come to join the band".
For a man approaching the autumn of life, Thurston appears in rude health, a ruddy and still boyish face and lush hair. His attire is hip but conservative, a powder blue shirt and smart jeans. Even his name is unique. How many other Thurstons are there in the music business? His aforementioned album is principally built around his versional story and events of the Angry Brigade (oh how us youngstes used to laugh when their funny name got announced on the news). In the seventies they were a bunch of left wing radical idealists who hailed from Stoke Newington, London and basically 'played' at being terrorists (Miss World even got disrupted!). "Detonation" is possibly the most descriptive of all. The song builds up gradually to a fast and frantic finale as Thurston cuts the song with a final cry of "we may have to use a toy grenade". "Germs burn" is a composition close to Thurston's heart. Indeed, as with all the set tonight, our collective skin is red raw, burned by the musical flames coming from the band. The Thurston Moore Bnad are not just making their instruments talk, they are screaming and shouting.
Living in London sems to have reinvigorated the lust for life, although keeping to his staunch musical principles. The scuzzy guitar drone is absolutely splattered out with a feral punk mood. His band carry out the ideas and execute succinctly. "Forevermore" is exquisite, but "The best day" takes this reviewer's breath away. It is my favourite track on the album and I watch with amazement as 'the guvnor' sings the opening line "Here's a man who's done it all, He takes a bath and he takes a fall". He ends with a line that most of the crowd here tonight would agree with; "The best day along with your best friend". I will mention an encore loosely because the band frequently disappear and reappear. It's what Thurston describes as "enjoying the rituals"! I sense that they have relished their first visit to Bedford and Thurston, with a dash of amazement, is telling excitedly of sightseeing in town where they "met Stewart Lee walking down the streets of Bedford". When the last squeals of fuzzed up feedback finally fade, our ears are left to recover from this unforgettable night. Thurston Moore bids farewell, but not before delivering his verdict of the gig. "You were awesome" he tells us. The feeling is mutual and this truly was the best day at Esquires.
Supporting The Thurston Moore Band on their tour is Hampshire singer songwriter HANNAH LOU CLARK. Immediately she tells us that she has eaten well beforehand as she is "full of Thai curry". She is dressed is a bright red top. The musical comparisons with PJ Harvey are obvious. Hannah is more to my liking when she performs without her annoying laptop and drum machine. Her lyrics are strong on "Kids in heat" and especially "Silent type" (title track from her 2014 EP) which finds her delicately cooing "I will kiss you when your mouth is broken".
Review by Martin Stapleton. www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk