The Selecter supported by The Glorious Old Bastard, and New Road.
Saturday 18th January 2003, Bedford Esquires.

I dont think this was one of NEW ROAD's better gigs; it seemed a pale imitation of their previous Esq. gig last October, where the Flitwick crew pulled out all the stops, they just didn't seem as on top form this time. The lead singer complained of having a cold and got through a fair quantity of water during the set - unless it was a generous helping of vodka - heh heh, despite this I dont think his vocal quality was effected, it was quite proffeshional to overcome this so well. He still belted a strong vocal delivery and put everything in to giving it his best - what a trooper! May be any bad luck the band had was due to their not having their New Road street sign up, which they usually use as a backdrop, there were certianly a few problems with the sound.
For some reason they were granted an extended set which they put to good use, especially as they now have 5 new songs in the set.
Their usual didgeridoo playing friend, this time came on with a curley wig + beard looking like a mad professor, or old farther time himself, - then eccentrically spent the rest of the concert looking on, wearing a white lab coat.
A few stops they did pull out, was the smashing of one of their guitars at the end, then throwing it's wrecked cadaver to the crowd, and as if to top that, their front man threw himself in to a crowd surf, to end the gig which just seemed to get better through out.

THE GLORIOUS OLD BASTARD is a fun time band that doesen't take it's self too seriously - they know they can deliver and accomplish different styles.
Their charasmatic front man soon had the crowd in his hand and it showed that the band has plenty of live experience.
They have quite a few instruments on stage and even appear to have someone's Auntie on keyboards, and added a ska type twang to the tunes. During the set, the band got a good crowd response and despite sound check teething problems and having to ask for more volume, they gained more respect from the crowd than who ever decided to remove their flyers from the wall in the gents and throw them in the urinal.
It's not mentioned on the Thirst club flyer but you can catch The Old Bastard again on March 29th when they support Subway Sect at Esq.

Although not the origional line up, THE SELECTER still have their main focal point in their amazingly talented Pauline Black on vocals, wearing a grey suit and trademark pork pie hat. In some parts of her singing there were some exceptionally harmonic overtones in her voice.
Their dreadlock clad guitarist was quite versatile and allowed his diverse skills to shine through on a number of occations and if allowed, looked capable of bursting in to heavy metal riffs at any minute, it looked as though at times that is what he wanted to do, but was restricted by being in a ska band. Their 2 Tone sound have span decades of material and gave us their classics including my favourite 'On My Radio', along with 'Too Much' and '3minute Hero'.
They also had a guest female singer who stayed on to accompany vocals on most of the tracks. The floor space divided in to the usual skanking at the back of the room and moshing at the front, as is usual when ska bands play. You could certainly feel the heat on the dance floor.
After the gig, my respect for Pauline rose when she took the time and trouble to make her self available to anyone wanting to say hello, or get stuff signed.


Keith Pickering www.bedfordmetal.co.uk