Jim Bob, S*M*A*S*H, Midway Still – Esquires, Bedford
A new venue for me, hidden away in the centre of Bedford. Despite getting there a couple of hours early, there really wasn’t much of a tourist trail there. I think I found a kebab shop.
Despite being about 80 miles away from home, this was a line up I felt I couldn’t miss. Jim Bob – Carter USM front man – supported by fellow 90s icons S*M*A*S*H and Midway Still.
Midway Still were on first at around 8.30pm. Like their fellow support band S*M*A*S*H they got a generous slot, maybe 40-45 minutes worth. A lot of the songs were from the last two albums, Note To Self (2010) and Always Ends (released this week) which suited me fine as they’re the band’s best work in my opinion. It would be good one day to hear them play Wish again though, a song that was maybe their first single but is sadly lacking from their setlists these days.
I got them to pose outside for a photo too, maybe because we’d recently recorded a session with them and followed up with an interview tonight …
Amazingly tonight was only the second time I have seen S*M*A*S*H live after catching them at the Portland Arms in Cambridge in March 2007. Well, the second time I remember, anyway … I was in the same room as them for a couple of 90s gigs too! There’s no website for the band, no fansites either now, so you need to keep your ear to the ground to see what they’re up to.
I still rate the band’s self-titled debut mini album from 1994 as an almost perfect selection of songs for an EP and I think all of them got an airing in their set including these two. It was nice to have a chat with Ed after the gig too.
Jim Bob took to the stage and read from his new book, Driving Jarvis Ham. He also played a very generous number of old Carter USM songs along with a couple of solo ones and a few from his first post-Carter outing, Jim’s Super Stereoworld (of which Salv, S*M*A*S*H’s bass player, was also a member).
Friday 8 June 2012, 248 views
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Gigs index
- Salad – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
- Franz Ferdinand, Los Bitchos – Alexandra Palace, London
- Sultans of Ping FC, Big Boy Foolish – The Institute, Digbeth
- Darling Buds, Theatre Royal – Academy 2, Islington
- Maximo Park, Pip Blom – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Steve Hackett – Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- The Divine Comedy – Barbican Hall, Barbican
- Fightmilk, Bitch Hunt, Sassyhiya – The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston
- Altered Images, The Metatrons – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Franz Ferdinand – Concorde 2, Brighton
- Tapeworms – Hot Box, Chelmsford
- Fightmilk, The Travis Waltons – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Hybrid Kid – Shortts Bar, Brighton
- Speakeasy Vol 1 – Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe
- S*M*A*S*H, The Astronauts – Club 85, Hitchin
- Thousand Yard Stare, The Shop Window – Academy 2, Islington
- Bugeye – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – Powerhaus, Camden
- Sea Power – Esquires, Bedford
- Salad, Piney Gir – The Lexington, Islington
- Fightmilk, The Spaces – Oast Community Centre, Rainham
- Fightmilk, Gold Baby, Gutts – The Victoria, Dalston
- Genesis – Liverpool Arena
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Utah Saints, Collapsed Lung – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Salad, Maschina, Burnout, Stick In The Wheel – High Tide Festival, Twickenham
- Hybrid Kid, White Dog, Lemur Lemur – Prince Albert, Brighton
- Futureheads, Mt Misery – Esquires, Bedford
- Sea Power – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- The Primitives, Jetstream Pony – The Lexington, Islington
- Becontree 100: Nova Twins – Parsloes Park, Dagenham
- Abdoujaparov, Big Boy Tomato – The Holroyd Arms, Guildford
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Republica, All Tomorrow’s Stories, Saint Nevis – The Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Dream Wife – Audio, Peckham
- Xmas Freak Show – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Jeana – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Darling Buds, Helen Love – The Lexington, Islington
- Salad, Cozy Slippers, Gold Baby, Macadamia Sluts – The Finsbury, Finsbury Park
- Hurtling, Pink Haze, Petrol Boys – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Divine Comedy – Empire, Shepherd’s Bush
- Frank and Walters, Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mimik Floyd – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Supergrass – Oslo, Hackney
- Ed Borrie, Scare Taxi, Metatrons – The Doctor’s Tonic, Welwyn Garden City
- Stillmarillion – Quay Theatre, Sudbury
- British Sea Power, Enjoyable Listens – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Standon Calling 2019 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2019 – Henham Park, Southwold
- The Good, The Bad and The Queen – Somerset House, Charing Cross
- The B-52’s, Trapdoor Social – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Piroshka, International Teachers of Pop – Central Library, Lancaster
- King Crimson – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
- Top Of The Alcopops! – Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Pop Will Eat Itself, Miles Hunt – The Institute, Digbeth
- Piroshka, Lemondaze – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
- The Stranglers – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Art Brut – The Haunt, Brighton
- Sleeper – Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- British Sea Power – The Con Club, Lewes
- Sleeper – BBC Studios, Maida Vale
- Cardigans, Moto Boy – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Salad, Colour Me Wednesday – Academy 2, Islington
- Abdoujaparov, Doozer McDooze – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- Soft Cell – The O2, Greenwich
- Shiiine On – Academy, Birmingham
- RiZE Festival – Hylands Park, Chelmsford
- Standon Calling 2018 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2018 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Thousand Yard Stare, Salad Undressed – The Lexington, Islington
- Thousand Yard Stare, Pacers – The Lexington, Islington
- Camden Rocks 2018 – Camden, London
- Salad, S*M*A*S*H, Jesuscarfish – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Darling Buds, Nightingales – The Lexington, Islington
- Marillion – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Idles – Chinnery’s, Southend-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Franz Ferdinand, Albert Hammond Jr – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- British Sea Power – Koko, Camden
- Bilk – Hideaways, Chelmsford
- Divine Comedy – The LCR, Norwich
- Shed Seven – Scala, King’s Cross
- Marc Almond – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Indie Daze 4 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad, Know Escape – The Lexington, Islington
- Star Shaped Festival – Ritz, Manchester
- Standon Calling 2017 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Sleeper, My Life Story – The Haunt, Brighton
- Latitude Festival 2017 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Radiohead, Junun – Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
- Thousand Yard Stare, Bivouac – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Salad Undressed, Vince Petchey – Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
- Senseless Things, Midway Stil – New Adelphi Club, Hull
- Young Band Night – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Salad Undressed, Vicky Sometani – The Water Rats, King’s Cross
- Darling Buds – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Mike Flowers Pops, Lorraine Bowen – The 100 Club, Soho
- Asylums, Petty Phase, Horse Heads, Scarletts – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Honeyblood, Ultimate Painting – Oslo, Hackney
- Undertones, Sultans of Ping – Forum, Kentish Town
- Divine Comedy, Lisa O’Neill – Open, Norwich
- Indie Daze 3 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Imogen Heap – Saint Francis Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower
- Howling Black Soul, Skuff, Smoke City Revolution – Cricketers, Westcliff-on-Sea
- CJ2, For The Love Of Bob – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Luna Highway, Kasual Karma, John Chapman and Alex Pezeshkian, Ad Edwards – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2016 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets, Kingsley Beat – The 100 Club, Soho
- Two Faced Serenade, Lightscopes, Jack Fordham and Muscle Bomber, Zublue – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Belly – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad Undressed – Antenna Studios, Crystal Palace
- Brentwood Festival 2016 – The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- Latitude Festival 2016 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Fitness In Mind All Dayer – Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- British Sea Power – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- Garbage – The Troxy, Hackney
- Thousand Yard Stare – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mo Fingers – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Gigantic Indie All Dayer – Academy, Manchester
- Helen Scott, Baby Blues – White Horse, Brentwood
- Lush – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Estrons, Our Girl – The Waiting Room, Stoke Newington
- Luke Haines – The Lexington, Islington
- Bracknall, High/Low – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Lovely Eggs, Phill Jupitus, Muertos – Bassment, Chelmsford
- States Of Emotion, Electric Child House, Davey James, Brown Brothers – O’Neills, Brentwood
- Lush – Oslo, Hackney
- Darling Buds, Popguns – The 100 Club, Soho
- Phoenix Fridays: Indigo, Everglows – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Dingus Khan, Horse Party, Superglu, Brackish Edge, Claws – The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich
- Sisteray, Beatniks – Bardswell Social Club, Brentwood
- Little Green Cars, Other Creatures – Bar and Grill, Hoxton
- Stop The War All Dayer – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- They Might Be Giants – Junction, Cambridge
- High/Low, Deniers, Different People – The Edge, Basildon
- Poder de Tres, Keeley Smith, Joe Fryd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Mystery Jets – South Records, Southend-on-Sea
- Shed Seven, Inspiral Carpets – The Forum, Hatfield
- Vile Electrodes, Under The Stars, Killatrix, Lixiviath – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Asylums, Petty Phase – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Baby Blues, Warm Winters, Velvet Tree, Re:Verb – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Fireworks, Electric Pop Group, Garlands, Keep Left Signs – New River Studios, Harringay
- Lydia Lucy, Jessica Ali, Adam Wedd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Dani Clay, Libby Holden, Jive Agents, Charlie Law – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2015 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Latitude Festival 2015 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Brownstock Festival – Browns Farm, Stow Maries
- Southend Village Green 2015 – Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea
- Who, Paul Weller, Sleaford Mods, Kaiser Chiefs – Hyde Park, London
- Blur, Metronomy – Hyde Park, London
- British Sea Power – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Thousand Yard Stare, Subrosa5 – Borderline, Charing Cross
- Madness – Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs
- Los Endos – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
- Juke, Takes, Ascetics, CJ2 – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Pop Will Eat Itself – Cargo, Shoreditch
- Ride – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Kaleidophone, Luke Sanders, Enemy Of The Lion, Connor Wells – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Finding Miranda, Ends, Helen Connolly, Eva Tobin – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Francesca Priest, Keeley Scott, Cameron Southcott – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Kaiser Chiefs, Public Service Broadcasting – O2 Arena, Greenwich
- Ryan Green, Luciee Closier, Leanne Louise – Eclipse, Brentwood
- Sulk, Tail Feather – Oslo, Hackney
- Velvet Tree, High/Low, Sonic Wah, Charlie Wallis – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Bis, Ghosts Of Dead Airplanes – The Lexington, Islington
- Stardog Champions, Fashoda Crisis, High/Low, Dirty Fairies, Deniers – Saks Underground, Southend-on-Sea
- Break For Cover – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- For The Love Of Bob, Everglows, Made In Paradise – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Carter USM, Sultans of Ping FC, Frank and Walters – Academy, Brixton
- Band From County Hell, Sophie DeBattista, Thomas James, Leigh Luscious – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Hafdis Huld – Phoenix Artists Club, Charing Cross
- Stillmarillion – The Tropic, Ruislip
- D’Ukes, Scarlet Echo, Aim, Wildfowl – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Electric Child House, Matthew Haslam Hammond, Charlie Wallis – The White Horse, Brentwood
- Kate Bush – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Brownstock Festival 2014 – Stow Maries, Essex
- Killing Jimmy, Flares, We Stand Tall, Matthew Haslam Hammond – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Brentwood Festival 2014 – The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- Lydia Lucy, Juke, Matthew Shepherd, Kate Thomas – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Latitude Festival 2014 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Pete Brame, Jared Richter Band, Molly Rainford, Rocheii – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Luciee-Marie Closier, Bow Flats, Francesca Priest, Matthew Attwaters – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Pop Will Eat Itself – Academy 2, Islington
- Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Miles Kane – Finsbury Park, London
- Wolf Alice, Superfood, Gengahr – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
- Yes – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Sunny Moon, Ordinary Noise, For The Love Of Bob, Annie May Adams – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Darling Buds, EN – Borderline, Charing Cross
- Mannequins, Tones, Jessi Cooper, Velvet Tree – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Menswear, Patrick Duff – Bush House, London
- Republica, Space – Academy, Islington
- Franz Ferdinand – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Ryan Green, D’Ukes, Lorretta, Philip Marino – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Republica, Sophie-Ellis Bextor, Glenn Gregory, Polly Scattergood, Stornoway – The Bedford, Balham
- Maximo Park – Sebright Arms, Bethnal Green
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