Review: Frantic scenes and a rapturous response at We Are Scientists gig in Bedford

Keith Murray being held aloft in the crowd

New York duo We Are Scientists are out on tour following the release of their latest album Helter Seltzer and headlined a sold out gig at Bedford's Esquires on Thursday.

For nearly 15 years, guitarist and vocalist Keith Murray and bass guitarist Chris Cain have been gracing stages across the world with a combination of some of the finest alternative pop hits you'll find and a witty onstage rapport.

Thankfully, both were in abundance at Esquires last week with to pair delving into some of the best known hits form their back catalogue.

On tour with fellow New Yorkers Beverly, come the end of the night, Murray, ‘sans-guitar’, was on the shoulders of a Bedford fan in the middle of the room while members of the support band joined Cain on stage for a frantic finale.

We Are Scientists opened their set with Impatience and before long were racing through new album track Buckle and former singles Dumb Luck and indie disco staple Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.

All were met with a rapturous response from the Bedford crowd.

Between songs, Cain and Murray, who perform as a trio joined on stage by a drummer, found time to share antidotes which included being in a good place with bottled beer and explanations for Cain's rough voice.

Other highlights of their set including Chic Lit and It's A Hit.

Despite only being a trio, We Are Scientists sounded great, with both members bounding around the stage with the Bedford crowd eating out of their hands.

After ending with The Great Escape, they returned for an encore which ended in the aforementioned on stage frenzy while Murray was carried around the venue.

Although We Are Scientists rely heavily on the chemistry between Murray and Cain, it works perfectly as they’ve the songs to back up the time they spend joking around between them.

An encore featuring the excellent After Hours and recent album track Too Late proved that six albums in, they're still packing out venues while writing hook laden hits.