Live Review: Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Panic Shack & Flat Moon - Bedford Esquires

BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD,
PANIC SHACK & FLAT MOON

ESQUIRES
BEDFORD
[15/04/2022]

Bedford’s legendary Esquires hosts a trio of exhilarating rising stars. Headlined by Cardiff’s freshest exports Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard.

Bedford Esquires is no stranger to launching the careers of stadium-sized bands. The likes of Coldplay, Muse and Lizzo have all graced Bedford’s historic music venue over the years before going on to have monumental careers. Therefore, it only feels fitting Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard play the legendary Esquires ahead of an anticipated summer support slot at their hometown's very own Principality Stadium. 

The beloved local venue survived the pandemic due to a surge of support from passionate gig-goers, and the hundreds of names etched across a mural outside the venue are the first sight to greet you upon arrival. Inside the sound and traditional style betters any dime a dozen boutique bar you’ll find in Hackney. 

The evening feels as if it will launch a few stars with the Cardiff quartet supported by a variety of excellent bands. Leeds Indie-Funk group Flat Moon energised the early crowd for the evening to come with their blend of zestful indie-rock reminiscent of the raucousness fellow northerners Arctic Monkeys brought to their early club shows, bold personalities and frequent stellar bursts of jazz from standout saxophonist Scarlet. 

Meanwhile, the Welsh punk quartet, Panic Shack performed an exhilarating, breathless and impassioned set. Making 30 minutes feel like five, the group ratcheted up the tension with opening track ‘I Don’t Really Like It’ before bursting into all their punk-fuelled glory. Performing their recent debut EP, the phenomenal ‘Baby Shack’ in its entirety. Overflowing with witty lyrics, it provided a multitude of quotable lines from the evening. “How dare you shush me in the cinema?”, “Where’s my lighter, I want to fight ya” and “I do Ju-Jitsu bitch!” are notable examples. It’s no surprise the group have been generating so much buzz following their much-talked about performance at the Radio 6 Music Festival, which this year was based in Cardiff.

Cardiff Punk Rockers, Panic Shack

This perfectly curated opening lineup ideally set the scene for Cardiff’s freshest export Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, who have been spearheading the ‘Cool Cymru’ revival. Tonight's headline set and UK tour come in support of their debut album ‘Backhand Deals’, that like their set tonight pays homage to the glam-pop legends of the 70s. 

Despite the band being over 150 miles away from the Welsh capital, there is a fervent fanbase gathered in Bedford dancing and singing along passionately to every note. Frontman Tom Rees is regularly appreciative of the love shown to the band throughout, even echoing hometown hero Tom Grennan’s declaration that “Bedford isn’t shit” despite common misconceptions. 

Evidently talented musicians, the group flowed through tracks, smoothly segueing from one to the next. Rees joked about how he’d placed all his piano focused tracks in one swift section so as to not have to keep switching instruments throughout the evening. A wise choice that led to the early highlight ‘New Age Millenial Magic’ whose melody, spritely keys and mystical lyricism reflected the bounciness often found in similar hits by Elton John. 

Whilst heavily influenced by that fluid era of 70s pop, it’s quite difficult to describe the lane that Buzzard’s have carved for themselves. Stylewise, the band have embraced elements of T Rex, Queen and Bowie. Rees’ light-heartedly namechecks the latter in the tongue in cheek, foot-stomping ‘John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ' mirroring Jagger and Mercury with his stage presence and flamboyant movements. Despite this, their sound feels more aligned with the chilled alternative dream-pop of Blossoms or the glam-rock inspired melodies of The Struts. This can be felt most intensely in the groove and sparkling guitar twangs of ‘Double Denim Hop’. 

As the night drew to a close, Rees lambasted the traditional encore, used solely by ‘rock phonies’ he declared. Instead, the band opted to leave on the hippie high of closer ‘Love Forever’, an electric guitar-based ode to a message of peace and goodwill for all, one that is keenly embraced by the joyous crowd swaying along. 

As noted, Esquires has a long-cherished history of bands cutting their teeth on its stage before breaking out to the masses. As excitingly evidenced this evening, we’ve only seen the start of three bands' stories. It’s going to be thrilling to witness what the future holds for each.