Nostalgia is fine if it is mixed with intelligence and good natured fun. Dave Wakeling and his version of The English Beat seem to be aware of that and with a fusion of tunes that time stamp his fans and his music, the delivery was upbeat and shared with the eager gathering.
Making apologies for not being here in decades, Wakeling and his band played to a very good and happy crowd at The Factory in Marrickville.
Although The English Beat (or The Beat) had some connections with the punk movement in England, their music was always too soulful and well produced to be slotted within that genre.
They were a tight as reggae/ska/soul band who could get you moving and shaking as soon as Saxa played his horn or Wakeling or Ranking Roger urged you on vocally.
Alas, the only remaining original English Beat member here is Dave, as two had left to become part of the Fine Young Cannibals and Roger has a similar Beat or Special Beat revival band in England. With Wakeling living in the US now, he and Roger have it worked out where they work each side of the Atlantic. No hard feelings, just geography and dollars and songs.
Wakeling is joined by toaster Antonee First Class who got the crowd up and involved. One of the biggest cheers was asking the assembled if they remembered the year” 1-9-8-0.” At least two-thirds of the crowd yelled in response therefore giving the band a good idea of the crowd’s demographics.
All the hits were rolled out from the initial “Rough Rider” to closing with “Mirror In The Bathroom”, The English Beat delivered what was expected.
Matt Morrish on Saxophone was surprisingly good and the mix of soul, reggae, and rock and roll kept people on their feet and singing along.
“I Confess” – with its first-rate saxophone solo – was a high point, along with the excellent cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Tears Of A Clown”, both were given a rousing reception by the Saturday night crowd.
Although it was a lengthy set, there were only a few moments in the middle of the evening where the energy seemed to lag. With closing songs “Give Me The Ska”, “Ranking Full Stop”, and the aforementioned” Mirror In The Bathroom”, Dave Wakeling and his posse doled out the sweetness and ska everyone had come for.
– Paul Busch
