The Bandits, supported by Surefire and Portion.
Saturday 5th April 2003, Bedford Esquires.

There wasn’t that big a turn out for this night, I had heard rumours that PORTION were good, and it turned out – the rumours were well justified. Respect must go to their front man who despite not having a lot of people to perform to, put everything in to it, and also for staying to dance to the headline band also.
I thought the bar at the front of the stage was especially padded to protect the singer when throwing him self around the stage with a passionate energy.
The band had some really good songs played well from their band members; one of which I noticed sported a space hopper T-shirt. This band would be good weather they are in a support slot or even worthy headliners. They are well worth looking out for and I’d certainly come down to see them play again. (www.portiononline.com)- for more info

The reason I thought the stage bar was padded was not to protect the first bands energetic front man, it was unfurled to reveal the stage banner of SUREFIRE, - the band that comes to ruin your town with Surefire graffiti.
Their sound reminds me of a kind of very early B-side Maiden, There very good at what they do but come over as just a standard old school rock band, no particular outstanding guitar riffs but retaining a nonetheless competent, and skilful ability.

THE BANDITS are no cowboy outfit, they are a Liverpool band with a professional approach. They had a Thwacking great tour bus in the yard and a merchandise area with western style posters, stickers & T-shirts.
I don’t know if they thought the venue was cold but they wore their padded coats and one guitarist had one of those woolly hats with the tassels. Their singer postured with a constipated looking edge to his movements and had quite a range to their style of music. The crowd never really got going throughout the whole gig, but there were heavy pieces, some new metal vocals – in thankfully sparse places although it added a dimension along with a bit of blues, creating a modern Doors atmosphere.



(K.) www.bedfordmetal.co.uk.