Bedford Esquires Review of 2016.
A look at 2016 at Esquires Bedford by Martin Stapleton. PART TWO.

JULY:

A busy July began on the 1st with a real clash of genres. The mainstage played host to a predominantly D.J. themed grime night courtesy of A Different Matter. Meanwhile, downstairs, Weaves are presented. Hailing from Toronto, they are driven by the creative force of vocalist Jasmyn Burke and guitarist Morgan Waters. They fuse syth pop to lo-fi indie.

The DMA’s were back at Esquires on the 3rd . the Australian lads still proved to be ever so popular. United in their combined love for nostalgic garage pop, this Sunday show saw them play songs from their Hills End album, which included Play It Out.

Semi finals the following week 8th and 9th as Tequila Mockingbird, Unitra, Ashley Falls and Drinsipa, collectively claimed their places for the Battle Of The Bands grand final.

The Shamed headlined a show on the 23rd they were preceded by Burning Visions, who unveiled some tracks from their brand new Visions Part One album.

Most people believe that if it weren’t for The Dickies, there would be no Green Day and on a balmy Thursday night 28th , many people gathered to pay homage to their American punk rock. The Dickies were the first group to play inappropriate cover versions at inappropriate speeds! In 1979 it was amazing and thirty seven years later it’s still very good. Other bands of that time garnered the praise, but failure to recognise the contribution of The Dickies would be a real shame. Also. Yes! Their Banana Splits evergreen classic was performed for the ‘zillionth’ time to wild applause.

Friday 29th saw Northampton’s alternative rock duo Drinsipa walk away with the winning prize at B.O.T.B. grand final.

Lupo headlined a show on the 30th . Killer rockabilly came to Esquires on the 31st as The Deadshots played as part of the day long Foxy Bells Summer Shakedown. Other bands to impress me during the month included Acoustopaea, Catfish, Hazard and The Greasy Diablos.

AUGUST::

One band dominates the Esquires schedules in August. Don Broco have in various guises, been performing here for many years. The Bedford lads are this town’s success story and their fanbase locally has always been huge. On 5th and 6th , Don Broco played their hometown as part of the 2016 priorities/Automatic tour. Each album gets performed in its entireity, on successive nights. Tickets were snapped up instantly and the mosh pit is continually full of sweat drenched bodies, having the time of their lives. This is what live music is all about and the atmosphere generated is not to be bettered all year here. Both gigs featured London band Massmatiks, who impressed everyone.

Wednesday August 10th featured an appearance by Lars Frederiksen, (of Rancid fame) who was fronting his street punk side project, The Old Firm Casuals.

2006 proved to be a most memorable year for local singer songwriter Tom Grennan. On 13th , he played his only Esquires show, but he was in demand everywhere else. A collaboration with Chase And Status on All Goes Wrong, featured on BT sport. A TV Later with Jools Holland slot was racked up. Award nominations and a nice picture spread in NME, also came his way. A seat on the Sky Sports Soccer AM Show was also claimed by Tom. He is indeed Living The Dream.

On the 19th , The Margin Kings brought some bump and grind RnB to us. They feature material from The Waiting Room project.

Local musicians dominated throughout August. On the 24th , The Wholls played a Reading/Leeds warm up show. Keen spotters would see coverage of Tordy and the boys on BBC’s filming of festivals. Their long time mates The Scruff are part of the Esquires line up.

A Chums charity event on 26th found six acts including Confirm To Serve, raise some money. Brighton Blues rockers Red Butler returned 27th in preparation for their Nothing To Lose album and Autumn tour.

Other notable sets came from False Idol, Near Moments, Gwinny and Tear Up during the month.

SEPTEMBER::

Totally Pissed And Proud and making 2000, were long time Oi punk exponents Peter And The Test Tube Babies, 3rd . Fast and furious, they always bring a smile to any fans face, with tongue in cheek humour to their battery of songs.

A couple of musical legends whacked through the venues doors and up the famous stairs on 10th . Drummer Paul Cook is famous for his skills in the groundbreaking seventies punk quartet The Sex Pistols. Guitarist Chris ‘motor biking’ Spedding, has performed with and produced many bands and musicians over nearly fifty years. Together they play as part of Sharks. A five piece band who also include original members Steve Parsons and Nicky Judd. The Sharks band was a project originally conceived in 1972 by the late Free bassist Andy Fraser. Tonight they reprise their old songs, plus a sprinkling of newly written material. The gig hosted by East/West Promotions, was simply classy and totally fantastic. At the same time downstairs, an all day metal festival was presented by TBFM Promotions. Eleven bands including A Vulgar Picture, All Consumed and Kaine, failed to sadly draw in many local fans.

They encompass a skiffle, punk sound with folk telling stories, but The Ouse Valley Singles Club have over the past few years, steadily built up a loyal fan following. On the 16th , they sold out the main stage to hold their album launch of The Pubs To Big Without You. Laughs aplenty, with their risqué tales from the three local counties.

Black Atlas rocked the bar on their current E.P. launch on 24th . Bands to catch my ear during September included, Mother Nuclear, Feedback Aftermath and Tilt Back. Also mention to the Cambridge singer songwriter Simon Lee Morgan.

OCTOBER:

A busy gig time as the heavy slabs of metal were enjoyed on the 1st by regular Esquires visitors Aghast! They were joined on this tour by Surreys Reprisal.

With over a twenty year career, Gary Boner brought back blues rockers Roadhouse on 2nd , his trademark throaty vocals were complimented by the bands female duo Sarah and Mandie.

The voice of Gomez, Mr. Ben Ottewell held an intimate Holy Molys show on 7th. Fusing ska, roots and reggae were Gentleman’s Dub Club. They create a nine piece brass party. On the same night downstairs, the NME championed fiery folk singer LA Salami offered up some ragged and raging poetic lyrics both happened on the 8th .

Sunday 9th saw a visit from the Cornwall based trio Willie And The Bandits. The stage is crammed full of their varied array of instruments. These include six string bass, wah pedals and distortion , lap steel and slide, tongue drum plus a five string electric double bass. Their unique sound, not only impresses the blues fans but also rock and world music buffs.

The 14th featured brass man supreme Jah Wobble And The Invaders Of The Heart. His early days were spent in John Lydons Public Image Ltd and his solo work incorporates Eastern and global music.

The rumbustious Eskies were back, down stairs at the same time BAM hosted an acoustic show, which was on the 15th and principally a farewell gig from local singer songwriter Chris Williams. Support came from Laterala (acoustic) and the talented Adiescar. Upstairs featured a hip hop night.

Shoegaze fans are rewarded on 16th with the guitar based sounds of October Drift. A usually quiet Thursday evening was transformed on the 20th when the Oi punk band The Last Resort kept the middle aged bald geezers very happy. Downstairs, the promising and hotly tipped band The Bay Rays kept the cool garage rock fans satisfied.

The Urban Voodoo Machine returned with their colourful gypsy blues swagger. The old Esquires chapel reverberated on the 21st , with their new album Hellbound Hymns. Venturing into Holy Molys I came across The Shimmer Band, who blew me away with one of the best sets of 2016. Fast and frenetic, a guitar blast thrill.

On the 23rd , Crows replicated their awesome set from last year. A 21st century punk sound which played live is brutal from start to finish.

Post punk fans of the 1980’s flocked on the 28th to see Theatre Of Hate. Mobile phones are held aloft when Mr. Brandon performs the anthemic Do You Believe In The Westworld.

CC Smugglers played their second sell out Esquires show on the 29th . Other good sets in October came from The S G’s, Insane Society, Virgin Kids and Herd Behaviour.

November and December To Follow.

NOVEMBER:

The rather quirky American trio We Are Scientists, opened Novembers mainstage calendar 3rd they arrived in Bedford after spending a vast chunk of the year touring around Europe and beyond. Bedford represents almost the final part of their heavy schedule and then they can fly back home. Any visible tiredness, or weary behaviour is not detected as they put on a truly memorable show. W.A.S., do like having fun on stage and they were on top form at Esquires. Their music is hard to define, perhaps catchy pop punk, funk, schtick, with amusing lyrics W.A.S., certainly don’t look or act like some image conscious musicians and it makes for a night to remember. The female fronted Beverly were a most riveting support band on the bill.

Remember Remember the 5th of November and there were plenty of musical fireworks in the venue on this night. Arcfest is the yearly all day music festival in the bar. Held by Sound Arc studios of Shefford, it is a fund raiser, this year for Parkinson’s UK. Of the ten bands I did manage to get a glimpse of, the two piece Gaylips entertained me the most. Upstairs on a separate promotion, a rather tiresome Young Native headlined. They were totally upstaged by a local based support line up. These included Hulkenburg and the excellent Luton trio, Dinges.

Friday 10th, featured the third Esquires 2016 appearance of Mr. Mark Morris! This time he is fronting his regular group The Bluetones. Still more than just a Slight Return, one feels!

The next day 11th we bid a most warm welcome back here to the eighties pop crooner Paul Young. He is the front man for the sevenpiece Tex-Mex exponents Los Pacaminos. Paul calls it his ‘cowboy band’ all wearing big hats and the appropriate attire, it proved to be such a great and entertaining evening. Mr Young’s post gig was only to happy to meet and greet his fans and flash the trademark smile.

Saturday 12th featured Dreadzone. A working project for over twenty years, they fuse electro, dub and reggae. It makes for a giant party on their audience.

The Sunday 13th afternoon session proved that British blues is in good health. We saw John Verity strap his guitar on again. This former Argent member has over his long career supported Hendrix, Joplin, Mayall, amongst others. He on this occasion, picked some tracks from his new, critically acclaimed album, My Religion.

Wolf People were back on the mainstage on a Thursday 17th evening with Bedford connections, many local musicians have poured in to give it a certain local reverence. The quartet played many songs from their current new album Ruins. Wolf People are full of intelligently written lyrics. Pop sensibilities and some trademark mighty juggernaut riffs.

Jesus Jones sold out Esquires on the 18th. Now everyone present may not now be an International Bright Young Thing anymore but, Right Here Right Now they can still make it, Real Real Real without doubt, the forty something fans went totally Info-Freako! As way of a big surprise, the support band were called Carefree Sud. It turned out to be half of nineties band CUD, and included Carl Puttnham, complete with a very colourful shirt!

Up n coming London band Gengahar made a return visit on the 19th

After disbanding his ‘Review’ Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind is his new band name on this night 25th I felt his more raucous early sleazy rock n roll far outscored the rather dull new material.

The lazy Saturday of the month 26th featured the Oxfordshire singer songwriter Lewis Watson. Downstairs Bedford Quartet The Shtooks launched their new E.P. called Follow Me.

Other impressive support slots in November included Keith Bayley, The Grubby Mitts, Bowfinger and The Zippheads.

DECEMBER:

On Thursday December 1st , Esquires received a visit from the nations favourite drug addled egomaniac, DJ and musician Super Hans. On the controls, he comes all the way from the British sitcom Peep Show. He is otherwise known as Matt King and was a night you either loved or hated. I was in the latter!

Classy musicianship thankfully returned on the 2nd , with a show by the Bedfordshire based psychedelic blues rock quartet, Pearl Handled Revolver. Lee, Andy, Simon and Chris performed many tracks from their excellent recent album, If The Devil Cast His Net.

An old skool bar punk night featuring Citizen Keyne and The Tendons, blasted out on the 3rd .

Sunday 4th saw Bruce Murray and friends celebrate the 30th anniversary of this towns busy Tavistock street based Music Centre shop. The bar was packed with a veritable selection of Bedford’s musical movers and shakers even at his seventy plus years, Bruce rocked out with guest musicians, for over three hours!

On Thursday 8th , Esquires held an evening with Dead Men Walking. The four musicians on display were, Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny, Theatre Of Hate), Dave Ruffy and Segs Jennings (The Ruts and Ruts DC). Seated, they acoustically performed songs from their particular bands. They also recounted stories and tales of their long musical careers.

Readings hotly tipped The Amazons, are a quartet who offered a lot of swagger. Whether they can make a breakthrough, is on this performance, rather debateable. They played on the 9th .

Ranking Roger bought his version of the old 2-tone ska band The Beat, on a sold out Saturday 10th night.

Also on the 10th Bedford Alternative Music hosted a night of metal in Holy’s with up and coming Countless Skies already raising attention in certain famed metal quarters, backed by London’s impressive Behind Blue Eyes, sassy female fronted Vendetta and a showcase opener for The Radio Decade remembered from the years BOTB.

More ska was on view when London’s Popes Of Chillitown were here on the 16th that same night in Holy Moly’s, ticket holders were treated to a true character of the blues rock scene. Del Bromham has been making music for near on fifty years. Principally he leads Stray, but tonight, he is at the helm of The Blues Devils. In a recent magazine interview, Del stated that he has no intention of retiring and wishes to become the ‘BB King of Buckinghamshire!

With a recent Sony Music Entertainment deal signed and sealed, the Wholls headlined a traditional Christmas show on the 17th . This lively gig sees them loudly finishing it off, shouting their catchy final song Roll Out Roll Out.

Bad Manners returned to the Esquires stage on Tuesday 20th , after a lengthy absence. Old favourites such as Lip Up Fatty, Special Brew, My Girl Lollipop, etc etc are sung. The line up has changed significantly since 1976, but singer Buster Bloodvessel has always remained. “You fat bastard, you fat bastard” is affectionately shouted out by his ever adoring fans. They were supported by Max Splodge, who reprised his novelty 1980 top ten hit, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please.

Although he is no longer part of the Inspiral Carpets, Tom Hingley was the bands vocalist during their golden hit making years, on the 30th he returned to the Holy Moly’s stage, to acoustically perform those Inspiral songs, as well as some of his own solo material.

December also included some good sets by amongst others, Hollow Star, Rusty G’s, Luke Tuchscherer and Cherry Lee Mewis and her Blues Gems.

Now lets see what 2017 has in store, as far as live original music is concerned.

Review by Martin Stapleton. www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk