Above: He's 52 and he dresses like a country club golf pro, and as the leader of the traveling version of English Beat, Dave Wakeling can still shoot par. Review is below.
Foo Fighters' review below, too.
Saturday's show at Crossroads KC was billed as the "Rockin' the Colonies Tour." It featured reincarnations of three British bands that were relatively famous during the 1980s: the Alarm, the Fixx and the English Beat.
The last time the Beat was in town, its show conflicted with another good show: the Killers at City Market. Same thing this time, but like at least three other people I ran into, I did both: I made it from the Foo Fighters' show at Kemper over to Grinders in time to catch nearly all of the English Beat's set. (They'd just finished their third song as I arrived.)
The Beat these days is a ska/two-tone orchestra led by Dave Wakeling, whose history with the band goes back to its birth 30 years ago in Birmingham, England. Other than its repertoire of songs, he's the only connection to the Beat and everything that followed. As opposed to bands like, say, Journey and Styx, who feature originals fronted by a new (younger) lead singer, the English Beat in 2008 are the inverse: the founding lead singer backed by capable replacements.
Above: Fernando Jativa and Antonee First Class give Wakeling some backup on vocals. Photos by Timothy Finn/The Star
Nonetheless, Wakeling and his crew, including toaster/cheerleader Antonee First Class, aroused a good vibe and plenty of dancing/swaying among a crowd of about 600 people.
Wakeling is a good frontman: cheery, witty and sarcastic, like Jon Langford (without the alcohol). The highlights included a couple of General Public nuggets ("Tenderness" and the cover of the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There") plus "Twist and Crawl," "Tears of a Clown," "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save It For Later," which Wakeling tagged with the choruses to Pearl Jam's "Betterman," then Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'." It was good fun, and the perfect nightcap to the Foos' incendiary madness.
Here's what I heard: Twist and Crawl, Can't Get Used to Losing You, Tears of a Clown, Rough Rider, I'll Take You There, Tenderness, Full Stop, Mirror in the Bathroom, Save It For Later, The Love You Give Lasts Forever.
| Timothy Finn, The Star
Does anyone who was there remember the exact set list? I was enjoying the show too much to be taking notes. My mental notes are that they opened with a medley that included "Stand Down Margaret" and that, besides the songs Tim mentions, they also did "Hands Off She's Mine" and "Two Swords," but I can't remember the order. Was "Two Swords" right before "Twist and Crawl?"
Posted by: Betsy | July 21, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I'm pretty sure I was hearing the last half of "Hands Off" as I was walking towards Grinders.
Posted by: Tim Finn | July 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
"Never You Done That" was in between the other two General Public songs.
They opened with "Whine and Grine" into "Stand Down, Margaret."
The Fixx were kind of a buzz kill, in my opinion. The Alarm did fine, but not many people were interested in them.
Posted by: z | July 21, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I have a copy of the setlist that I can post later today. I'll run home over lunch and grab it for you.
Posted by: Brian | July 21, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I thought all 3 bands really stepped up on a hot night. The Alarm surprised me a bit by how good they sounded and the Fixx was anything but a buzzkill IMO. They have definitely tried to reinvent themselves and it kinda worked for me. The Beat was by far the highlight for me and I was lucky enough to hang with Dave for a few minutes after thier set. The guy is all class. Very good show indeed. Thankyou Crossroads KC!
Posted by: Denny | July 21, 2008 at 01:30 PM
I thought all three bands were very entertaining and effective in their own way. They all have their own take and place as some of alternative music's often forgotten but still meaningful forerunners. I agree, it is a shame that Dave Wakeling keeps getting scheduled the same night some of the more popular/younger alternative acts are also in town. I think some people would really enjoy his infectious take on ska if they had the chance. Maybe the promoters can get him to come to KC next time when there are not these obvious conflicts.
Posted by: G. Love | July 21, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Great Show. I drove 4 hours to see The Beat. I wish Dave would have done more from Special Beat Service.
But great enthusiastic fun.
See you next time, and please take it easy on the cheeseburgers there Dave.
Posted by: Sailor | July 21, 2008 at 06:23 PM
I thought all three bands did an awesome job! I though Cy from The Fixx was un-believable and The Beat was great. I to meet Dave Wakeling on two different times there and he was just a great guy and thanked him for still playing. Anyone know what Ranking Roger is doing? I heard touring with his son.
Posted by: Tom | July 21, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I'm pretty new to this technocracy. I videotaped a few of the numbers and would love to post them for all to enjoy but don't want to get into any trouble with the likes of ASCAP. Any thoughts?
Posted by: Betsy | July 22, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Unless Prince is involved in any way, you're safe.
Posted by: Tim Finn | July 22, 2008 at 02:42 AM
Sorry for the delay, but here is the list:
English Beat Set List (in order): Whine n Grine, I Confess, Hands Off, Best Friend, Ackee 1-2-3, Doors of Your Heart, Tears of a Clown, Twist n Crawl, Can’t Get Used to Losing You, Rough Rider, 2 Swords, Take U There, Never U Done That, Tenderness, Full Stop, Mirror in the Bathroom, Click Click, Never Die, Save it for Later, End of the Party, Jackpot
Posted by: Brian | July 22, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Thanks for the setlist Brian. I don't remember them playing Ackee 1-2-3 or Click Click. Guess that's what a 5-hour-long night of music (and accompanying refreshments) will do to the memory.
Posted by: Betsy | July 22, 2008 at 09:52 AM
That must have been the setlist they printed up and taped to the stage/soundboard. Doesn't look accurate to me, either. Bands change/improvise on those all the time. When the Pixies came to the Uptown a couple of years ago, the soundboard guy gave me the setlist he was working with. About half of it was wrong.
Posted by: Tim Finn | July 22, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I thought some of the tunes were missing, but then again I had a few beers so part of the show was a blur. The set list was given to me by a member of the band and taken from the stage. I posted what I have on paper, and I agree set lists change all of the time.
Off to get ready for the Mayhem Festival at Sandstone and bleeding ear drums.
Cheers!
Posted by: Brian | July 22, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I had a few spelling errors in my post, but what do you do without spellcheck? Great job Tim of being open and fair with your reviews. I thought the Crossroads is a great venue (first timer). We are looking forward to the Bodeans, whom I saw in 1985 or 1986 at the 9:30 club in DC. They were great then and saw them with Sting a few years back. Go see them!
Posted by: Tom | July 22, 2008 at 09:31 PM
I saw the Bodeans at the old Parody Hall in the City Market in 1986 right after they released their first (and best) album. A year or so later they opened for U2. I'll go see them again and hope they do "She's a Runaway."
Posted by: Tim Finn | July 23, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Also, Bodeans should still be doing their concert classic "Good Work". They have played it from the beginning of their career (including the U2 show), but didn't release until their 3rd album. They tore it up on Letterman's show when they finally released it.
Posted by: Pat | July 23, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Love That You Give Lasts Forever? I've heard the song live and at a few Beat shows, but never on a Beat or General Public album? Anyone know more about the tune? Thanks.
John
Posted by: John | September 15, 2008 at 01:58 AM