Concert review: English Beat

Photo courtesy of DaveWakeling.com

With two mega-concerts taking place elsewhere in the Kansas City area, it was a wonder anyone was left to take in a little nostalgic pop/reggae/ska from a band that hadn’t put a record out since 1983. But any one of the 500 or so who headed over to the VooDoo Lounge Friday night was in for a true treat.

The show was billed as a reunion of the English Beat, the mishmash of style and cultures, who skyrocketed to fame (at least in their homeland) with now-classic ‘80s new-wave offerings such as "Special Beat Service" and "What Is Beat?"

But it really was a reconstitution. Dave Wakeling, the group’s co-founder, is the only original member left. No Ranking Roger. No Saxa, the old man who played his saxophone while sitting on a speaker.

But in their place are five masterful musicians whom, with their tight instrumentation and spot-on backing vocals, are perhaps even better than the originals. Especially strong is Fernando (only name given), who added spark and punch to every one of 21 songs with his Selmer Mark 7 sax, tambourine and voice.

For two solid hours, the Beat played just about every "hit" in its catalog, and if there was one soul in the house standing still, it was only at the bar to refresh a drink. Dave and Co. had everyone shaking their groove thangs the entire night.

The show started with a lesser-known number, "Whine ‘n Grine," but it soon segued directly into "Stand Down Margaret," Wakeling’s 1980 message to then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

By the time the band launched into "Best Friend" on its fourth number, the hits were flying. "Doors of Your Heart," "Twist ‘n Crawl," the Samples’ "Can’t Get Used to Losing You," "Mirror in the Bathroom" … all were received with aplomb, as was a rollicking version of the Staple Singers’ "Take You There." Midway through, after a brief political diatribe (Wakeling once held a full-time job with Greenpeace), Wakeling announced, "That leads us to butchering this Smokey Robinson song." That was followed by the Beat’s famous cover of "Tears of a Clown."

A neat moment came toward the end, when Wakeling told his audience that the band was supporting an organization that helped children receive surgery to correct cleft palates. He asked the folks to throw money up on stage while the band played "Tenderness," a hit by Wakeling and Ranking Roger’s later band, General Public.

"We usually get $250 thrown up here," Wakeling said. "That will pay for one child’s smile."

That number got the biggest ovation of the night until the final song of the set.

"We’ve been saving this one for later," Wakeling said, before his strumming of his Vox teardrop-shaped guitar set off the band’s most-known hit, "Save It For Later."

Everyone would’ve been more than satisfied to leave it at that. Everyone, except for Wakeling, that is, who appeared to be having the time of his life the entire night. "End of the Party" would’ve made for a perfect encore, but the band added "Jackpot," then thanked their audience.

All the scenesters probably got all they wanted at the City Market and the amphitheater out in Bonner Springs on Friday. But most of the the several hundred who wanted something different left the VooDoo Lounge feeling like they’d missed out on nothing.

| Bob Luder, The Star

Comments

[Rhonda]

I saw the English Beat's show in Columbia at the Blue Note the following night. It was an even smaller audience (it was graduation weekend...) than the one described here, but I thought the show was outstanding. Dave Wakeling's voice sounded tremendous and the crowd was definitely into it... lots of dancing and cheering. After seeing The Killers on Friday, I almost passed on this show but I'm so glad I didn't. The music of English Beat is infectious and always puts a smile on my face.

[bob atkins]

Hands down that was one of the most absolutely fun shows I've ever been to, even worth sitting through local openers The Zeros for 90 very long minutes (sadly, we heard plenty in the crowd who were there for the Zeros, who hadn't even heard of English Beat).
The small crowd did allow for tons of skanking room, and the band didn't seem affected by the small crowd at all. Dave's patter inbetween songs made the show even more intimate, and when we threw money at the stage, it was a natural extension of the goodwill vibe that was persistent all evening.

[Mark W]

we need more 80s bands coming through. Shucks I missed this one too. I miss the days when people actually danced at shows.