YEAR REVIEW,
2007.

A look at 2007 at Esquires Bedford by Martin Stapleton.

January
2007 starts off quite quietly at the venue with local bands dominating most of the gigs of any real note. Making an appearance (26th) are Look See Proof who are to enjoy such a successful year. They are supported by Herts boys The Runners who, in April, won the national Red Stripe award for unsigned bands. Also in the month (12th) popular local ska quartet Last Man Standing play their final gig. Mention must be included of our New York visitors Goodfinger who visit Danny's Bar for an eventful evening (20th).

________________________________________ February
The month explodes with The Roar Club presenting 'heavyweights' The Rakes, with once again front man Alan Donohue stealing the show. Needless to say it's a complete sell-out on the 3rd. Also paying us a return visit are Brighton's Electric Soft Parade who put in a low key performance. In fact it is an evening (13th) which is notable for an impressive debut by local band Tinker Jack. Other highlights include Derby rockers Lost Alone (9th) and skater-teens Linchpin who are literally blown off stage by anglo-aussies The Scare (23rd).

________________________________________ March
March at Esquires is all about one man, Jack Penate, whose appearance (24th) sold out weeks in advance. For those lucky enough to have a ticket it's a memorable evening. Other high points are young metallers HeKz headlining (2nd). While for the older music fans, former Bad Manners members Martin Stewart and Louis Alphonso arrive (9th) as part of Skaville UK.

________________________________________ April
A couple of contrasting music makers step on the stage this month. Simon Kirke, legendary drummer with classic rock band Free gives an outstanding display and rolls back the years (27th). While Jimmy Davis of Pitchshifter fame has a prima-donna evening with Victory Pill on an appropriate Friday the 13th! Manchester's Sonic Boom Six provide some contemporary urban punk (21st), and a couple of Roar Club gigs see visits from Louie (14th) and Switches (28th). Rock riff fans are sated by Rattlesnake Remedy (6th) and Tokyo Dragons (16th).
________________________________________ May
When it was revealed that David and Lee Sells, Johnny Harry and Jason Slender, otherwise known as Look See Proof would be opening the John Peel stage at next months Glastonbury, tickets for their bank holiday weekend appearance (26th) sold like the proverbial 'hot cakes'! While a few days later, another young band tipped for the top, Kent's Good Books gave us a visit (29th). Other touring bands to play on level 2 are indie-dance and Hacienda revivalists The Whip (25th). Heavy noise merchants from Bristol Burning Skies (4th) and a pre-Download gig from The Zico Chain (11th) sate the metalhedz!

________________________________________ June
With the festival season upon us, Esquires promoters emphasise that variety is the spice of life, as this month old punks re-aquaint themselve with the oldest punk in town Mr Charlie Harper and UK Subs (16th). While in a rare Sunday evening show sees a sell-out for re-emerging ska-scousers The Dead 60's (17th). If they are not for you? What about the psychedelic earth trance duo Zetan Spore who produce some mushroom music (23rd). Calmness and quirkiness in equal measure is personified by Windmill (9th) and less so by Shy Child (15th). Phew, what a mixture!

________________________________________ July
As a warm-up to some London gigs, level 2 gave a warm welcome to Cajun Dance Party (7th). While a week later ska ruled with a show featuring Yorkshire's Random Hand. A fairly quiet month ends with the second Bed-Rock festival (27th & 28th). A two day two venue live music feast that features nearly fifty music acts from Bedford and beyond!

________________________________________ August
With most people at this time of the year dreaming of sun, sea and sand, live music takes a back seat at Esquires. However a little gem of an acoustic evening (3rd) takes my eye as it features perennial 2007 acts The Sticks, Amy Lee and Kristian Purcell. Heavyweight Americans Trashlight Vision make some serious noise (10th) and The Peacocks (Swiss psychobillys) vie with our very own Henry And The Bleeders a week later. Young local bands The Beaslie Gang (4th) and The October Game(18th) continued to impress.

________________________________________ September
As we enter the autumn season, thoughts automatically turn to Cravenfest (15th). This is the third and once more there is plenty for everybody to enjoy. It happens on level 2 and Danny's bar , while a separate gig on the same day occurs in the disco area with a visit from Does It Offend You? Yeah. The annual SWMTF gig (29th) features legendary Irish stratocaster master Bernie Torme (ex of Gillan) who performs along with John McCoy and Robin Guy to form GMT. The night before, American country rock impressario Chuck Prophet takes his bow. Probably one of the most off-beat gigs occurs (21st) when Essex duo Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip arrived here on the back of their "Thou shalt always kill" single. With gushing praise from NME, they showed just why.

________________________________________ October
This month is all about Tuesday 9th and the appearance of nu-rave phenomenon Hadouken!. The gig sold out within hours back in June, and the place is awash with glowstick hysteria! A top evening also features Late Of The Pier and the returning The Whip. Contrasting this are firstly Richmond Fontaine, whose tales of American pioneers tests the wallet (13th), and next, the best rapper to come out of Fulham, namely Example (24th). A note must be made of the 27th when legendary local punk star Jon Bately married his beloved Sofia in the afternoon and then proceeded to reunite his band The Tendons for a memorable gig in the evening!

________________________________________ November
Canadians seem to be everwhere in Esquires at the moment! Firstly Holy Fuck (15th) give us a heavy mess of naughty grooves played on real DIY instruments, only to be followed by fellow countrymen Crystal Castles (29th). American rock legends Will Haven find an apathetic Bedford (17th), and the same fate befalls veteran yankee-ska band The Toasters (13th). Children In Need evening (16th) sees youngsters Sirenide, 91 Pieces and Spiked help raise money for a worthwhile cause. Fading punk stars Johnny Panic try to kick start their flagging career (9th).

________________________________________ December
The big gig this month, both physically and literally is hip-hop grimester Lethal Bizzle's visit (12th). Controversy has followed this rapper around, but tonight is a pow party! The evening is a sell-out which is matched two days later when 'local' rock royalty The Quireboys step back on stage. Various Christmas festivals are notable for their performances by The Smoking Hearts (15th), Henry And The Bleeders (29th), and young ska band Minimal Damage in the bar on Christmas eve.

Favourite Album ~ Take to the Skies - Enter Shikari
Favourite Single ~ Golden Skans - Klaxons
Favourite Esquires Gig ~ Level 1 - Mexicolas. Level 2 Zetan Spore
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ The Noel Prior Band, Penzance, Cornwall
Hot Tip for 2008 ~ Henry and the Bleeders

________________________________________ The Best of 2007

Pete Burridge - Superstar DJ
Favourite Album ~ A Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
Favourite Single ~ Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
Favourite Esquires Gig ~ Jack Penate
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ Kate Nash @ Shepherd's Bush Empire
Hot Tip for 2008 ~ Amy Lee

Paul Craven - Metal Promoter Extraordinaire
Favourite Album ~ Take to the Skies - Enter Shikari
Favourite Single ~ Staring at the Rude Boys - Gallows & Lethal Bizzle
Favourite Esquires Gig ~ Level 1 - Djevara, Magic Skool Bus, No Cigar, The Baddies, Goodfinger. Level 2 - Sonic Boom Six, The Dead 60s, UK Subs, Cravenfest / Christmas Cracker.
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ Wolflaw @ The Pitz (twice!)
Hot Tip for 2008 ~ Random Hand

Milky - The Roar Club
Favourite Album ~ A few contenders this year - Kings of Leon, Soulsavers, White Stripes, Dinosaur Jr, BRMC. For the first part of 2007 i'd plump for VATICAN D.C with 'Make It Ride' - a superb set of dance/rock fusion tunes that for some reason got largely ignored, every track on it is a winner. For the second half of 07 i'd have to plump for LES SAVY FAV with 'Let's Stay Friends' which is quite simply a genius album. Also i must mention the sublime 'Our Ill Wills' by The Shout Out Louds which if you like the sound of The Wannadies covering The Cure, you simply must beg, borrow or steal this (i downloaded it) - i don't think it got released in the U.K - criminal!
Favourite Single ~ I was gonna plump for the Manic's 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' but i can't stop listening to 'Teddy Picker' by Arctic Monkeys. I'm not really a big Monkeys fan but what a track, it stems from a rather strange arrangement and a distinct lack of chorus yet it spanks the ball out of the park. One handed.
Favourite Esquires Gig ~ The Rakes, we got to hear the new material, meet old friends, hear some great new excuses for lost tickets (my dog ate it etc) and got them the full house they deserved back in 2004.
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ Jesus & Mary Chain at Brixton Academy. Song selection, performance, atmosphere all spot-on. I've been to over 2000 gigs in my time, and this goes in the top 10. That good. (Does that include the train journey home Mister Milky? ~ Simone)
Hot Tips for 2007 ~ Destined for 'The View' like adoration - THE METROS (Catch em at Esquires on March 8th). Bands that excite me at the moment; Eastern Conference Champions, Make Model, The Satin Peaches, The Rascals, Cat The Dog. Best record of 2008 i've heard so far is 'The Son's & Daughters' next long player - its phenomenally good. For a wild card i'd mention THE MOUTH - a kind of Twang meets Foo Fighters combo from West London then theres SISTER - think.. ice maiden fronting a bunch of voodoo cowboy's - yum.
Fave Heckle ~ Farris Rotter (from the stage) at Alexandra Palace supporting The Arctics... The crowd were constantly booing his band. "BOO, BOO, Thats B O O, put a K on the end and you get BOOK, try reading one, you might get smarter". Went up in my estimations after that.
Wish for 2008 ~ I just wish Bedford's indie kids would wake up to what's on their doorstep and support the gigs of The Hungry Bears, Roar Club etc by turning up more regularly. COME ON.

Kev Bailey - DJ (The Pad) / The Roar Club Co-Promoter
Favourite Album ~ Lcd Soundsystem - Sound of Silver & Julian Cope - You Got a Problem With Me (Worst Album - The Beastie Boys. Acid Jazz pub rock at it's worst!)
Favourite Single ~ Teddy Picker - Arctic Monkeys (Worst Single - Bloc Party - Flux. Dance Band? Who are they kidding? Lost direction more like!)
Favourite Esquires Gig ~ Holy Fuck or Example (Worst Esquires gig - Jack Penate - every song sounds like The Housemartins! / Hadouken - limp bizkit in disguise)
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ Super Furry Animals @ ICA (Glastonbury warm up show) / Prince @ 02 Arena / The Who @ Roskilde Festival
Hot Tip for 2008 ~ Late of the Pier / Comeback of 2008 - Cornershop

Rick & Simone - Website Geeks
Favourite Album ~ Neon Bible - Arcade Fire / Darren Hayman and The Secondary Modern - Darren Hayman
Favourite Single ~ All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem / You! Me! Dancing! - Los Campesinos! Favourite Esquires Gig ~ Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip / GoodBooks
Favourite Non-Esquires Gig ~ Jesus and Mary Chain - Summercase Festival, Barcelona / Gruff Rhys - Echoplex, Los Angeles
Hot Tips for 2008 ~ Los Campesinos, The Indelicates, Friendly Fires (again!), The Subliminal Girls, The Wave Pictures, Fanfarlo