THE WHOLLS
with The Scruff and The Jebs.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Sunday 23rd December 2012.

The pre-Christmas fare at Esquires on 2012 shall further be known as The Wholls weekender. Following on from last week's Don Broco doubleheader, it is matched with these successive Saturday and Sunday sold out shows. In these economicaly tough times, that's no mean feat and excellent when the bands have all got strong local connections. Memories of The Pecadiloes nights of a dozen plus years ago come to my immediate mind.

This has been a phenomenal year for THE WHOLLS and once again, their vast and loyal Spartan followers are out in full force to help them celebrate. For the first time in a few years there appears to be a real scene, indie wise, developing here locally. We must remember that the three bands appearing here tonight helped sell out Bedford Corn Exchange a few months ago. The Wholls neatly mix the traditional guitar based rock with a rich and full urban flavour. They deftly integrate a real concoction of influences, genres and mashed up ideas. This quartet can never be accused of lacking in self belief. They proudly strut onto the stage, never resisting the chance to hype up the crowd.
For the next hour or so it's time to metaphorically blow up the speakers. The first comment naturally gets the right response; "Are you Wholling?". Of course they are. A rather surreal combination of bright chiming guitars and the word "blud" which is mentioned many times. The catchy "Under My Hat" is an early points scorer, even though it does sound like The Hives! The cool and charismatic frontman directs operations, but a femal friend is quick to point out that she finds it a little disturbing to witness a man wearing a T-shirt so tight that you can see his nipples, even from the back of the room! Although at times this long set does descend into a slice of melancholy lite, sometimes even a 'schmindie' tedium, a song as glorious as the divine "Northern Lights" comes to the rescue. With a gentle opening, it develops into something a touch classy.
Prospective single "Ronnie White" shows exactly why there has been such a loud and raucous brouhaha about The Wholls. The band reveal that they are really going to push this one in 2013. Offering such obvious magnetism, their progressive and creative ideas are perfect for such a cosmopolitan town as Bedford where there are so many cultures and families whose heritage began in a foreign land. With r 'n' b sax dominating a couple of songs and a guest vocalist lending assistance on "Dream Of Love", my ears prick up with the ever addictive strains of "Emily". Sometimes the rhythms are fragmented, but with this song coherence and catchiness rule. Almost a sensory overload. As it's that festive time of year we are treated to an "Xmas Song". It skanks in a 'walking in the air' sort of way. With a stage invasion of fans dominating the reggaeish lilt of "Summertime", Zedo joins forces with The Wholls for the soulful "Creeper". After a rapping "No. 30" we reach the inevitable anthem of "B-Man" which brings events and the weekend to a close. Not before another stage takeover occurs though. Whollsmania hits Esquires again!

Opening events are THE JEBS who start by announcing that they are soon to be splitting up, an inauspicious start for sure! Anyway, after that minor bombshell, they give a massive "big up" to everyone. Can someone please, please tell me what a 'big up' is? Although it's early doors, guests already clamber onstage for "No Returns". These people don't appear to be doing anything other than pointing and gurning. As it unfolds we witness the usual lively Jebs show, highlighted for this reviewer by the "On And On" song which is the ultimate earworm!

THE SCRUFF seem genuinely surprised that they have a second sell out show to play too. Well if they had been here this time last week, they would have seen the same mass adoration handed out to Don Broco. The trio also possess the compulsory urban street slang. Visually very clean cut with lashings of dapper indie, "Friday Night Saturday Morning" leaves a good impression. However, it's with the laddish "Just Can't Leave It Alone" that the crowd and band fully unite.