The Whybirds + Pearl Handled Revolver + Alias + Jub - 25th September 2009
Reviewed by Fran Bove
Alas this particular Friday night started on bad note for me. As I embarked upon the short expedition up the stairs to level 2 I could hear the music leaking through the hallowed doors, I was late.
It was my own fault and a fault that I would live to regret, at least for the next hour or so. As I squeezed my way through the busy room to the crowded bar, Jub were in full flow, pumping out melodic pop rock tunes as if they were going out of fashion. Some would say it is lazy for reviewers to make comparisons between bands, however it is clear to see that this three piece are influenced by the likes of Panic at the Disco, Fall out Boy and The Foo Fighters. A cynic would say that the in-ear monitors they were using may have been surplus to requirements in a venue like Esquires but based on the trio's strong performance I'm prepared to put my cynicisms aside.
After a short break Alias took to the stage with their own blend of blues/rock. A striking front man, wearing an even more striking shirt led the band through a raft of songs full of riffs, solos and intelligent breakdowns that cause a fellow audience member to draw comparisons with New Model Army, a reference that I have to say is lost on me! With clever use of guitar effects and pounding drums they win over the large crowd. The numbers with backing vocals shine brightest making me wish that we heard more bv's during choruses. Perhaps the delay pedal was overused at times, reminding me of a Bill Bailey sketch, but overall this was a band who clearly enjoyed being onstage and despite some minor technical difficulties gave a strong performance.
Having seen Pearl Handled Revolver acoustically in the past I was eager to experience the full electric set. Of course I was never going to be disappointed. I'm told that certain members of this band don't enjoy references to psychedelic blues but it would be unfair to deny such a term. With Vern throwing us a stare that bordered on manic I found myself hypnotised by this bands music. Vern is a captivating front man who's gravelly bluesy vocals tell us in no uncertain terms that he 'never liked you anyway'. With songs full of passion that are musically fascinating PHR are clearly a band with a wide range of influences. Of course there is the obvious list of psychedelic/blues/rock acts to draw comparisons to, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who etc. but a trip to their myspace reveals in PHR you find a group of not only true musicians but true music lovers. Not only that, these guys put on one hell of a show, all of them individuals who's personalities shine through onstage with no hint of one out shining another. PHR pounded out song after song to a crowd who watched intently. With a New Years eve' gig booked at this very venue you can be sure of a night to remember, get it in your diary now!
And so it was the turn of headliners and local Bedford boys The Whybirds to play. It's hard to put these guys in a genre, they skilfully blend Americana with Classic Rock and at the same time their songs have a hint of pop in their structure. They use all of their 4 vocals to full effect on all songs, gently caressing you with smooth, southern harmonies and at the same time hitting oh so hard with their punchy guitar tones and accomplished solos. What was really special about this band for me is the way that there was no obvious front man, each member took lead duties on at least one song each and they used the stage to its full effect. These guys manage to produce a polished set that retains the unpolished tones and vibe of rock and roll. Their set brings a fantastic night of music to a close that was enjoyed by a pleasantly large number of people. It was just a shame that most of said number of people (which had slowly dwindled by the end of the set, perhaps with gig-goers saving themselves for the Sid Worth gig the following day) seemed intent on standing still. This was a line-up that really showed quite what quality live music Bedford has to offer. Here's to many more nights as good as this.