Watch the Walls + Attika + Your First Autumn + Kids Picked Last - 13th August 2009
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton
Thursday rolls around and right on cue, it's another showcase evening courtesy of Bedford Alternative Music. Stealing the show are Luton metal lads Attika, especially as it's frontman Bujj's birthday. I have a feeling it's going to be a special set and I am not to be disappointed. Although I will gloss over the fact that Bujj is wearing a leopard skin print fedora (but not for long), plus a pair of shiny Dr Frankenstein boots. As befitting the most experienced band on show tonight, Attika are extrememly honed and tight. Noticeably, it seems as if the birthday boy is determined to play each song with a different guitar! In fact, one voice from the audience points this out in no uncertain terms "Too many guitars"! Amusing, but also very factual. Possibly the most gobsmackingly over the top 'axe' is unleashed on "Angelic Gold". As this twin guitar is strapped on, all the eyes are fully focussed on Bujj. Both the song and the finger picking skills are perfect. The unique guitar works in perfectly as it fully encapsulates the gentle and violent nature of the piece. "Unforgiven Darkness" reverberates with it's oh so heavy intro. During a brief hold up, I enjoyed the remark that the guitarist made about his sticksman. "Drummers! They are the cyclists of the musician world!" Obviously the comment of a gas-guzzler! The flexibilty of Attika shone through with "Heavy Metal Blues". A song that fulfils the title exactly. A final blast on "Welcome to the Nightmare" is met with loud applause, and deservedly so.
Headlining, and continuing to improve and impress, are Flitwick trio Watch The Walls. It's nice to see the confidence growing and the development stemming from it. An appearance at the recent students band competition in Bedford Corn Exchange drew strange comments about the denomination of the band. A trio can be a force. Just think of Nirvana, The Jam, Green Day etc, etc. Tonight there is a young lady, fuelled on too many 'cloudy fruit juices'(!), and determined to disrupt the boys' performance. With the input of all bandmembers on songwriting, there is a good degree of variation to their pop-punk roots. I find "You Know" to be their best song, a real grower. At present, this is a young band that I always look forward to seeing.
Of the other two bands on show, it was a shame that Your First Autumn were only afforded four songs. A five piece whose energy was to be admired, with a blonde haired screaming vocalist who gets maximum support by his guitar section. Unfortunately, it's only a brief taster. "Chinese Whispers" is a fine finale.,/p.
The less said about Kids Picked Last the better. Lets just say that its young adults trying to copy Enter Shikari! Not a very memorable thirty minutes of my life. I did like their acoustic song to lighten the mood.