LIVE REVIEW: The Selecter, Boiler Shop, Newcastle, Sunday 20 October 2019
Judging by the plethora of anniversary shows doing the rounds at the moment, 1979 looks to have been something of a vintage year for music and none more so than for the ground-breaking Coventry based Two-Tone label.
Blending Jamaican ska and peggae with the rebellious spirit of punk, Two-Tone ruled the airwaves over the next couple of years, with The Specials, Madness, The Beat and Bad Manners all making regular appearances on Top Of the Pops.
Joining them at the top table were The Selecter, fronted by the enigmatic Pauline Black, and tonight was a celebration of their 40th anniversary, as well as a nod to their Two-Tone contemporaries.
After the brief intro of The Avengers Theme it was non-stop skanking to the beat from the second Three Minute Hero kicked into life as the Boiler Shop erupted into a unified mass of dancing, ska-style.
With a formidable catalogue of hits like Missing Words, Too Much Pressure and the dancefloor-busting On My Radio, along with some classic cuts from their debut album, such as The Whisper and Murder, as well as Celebrate The Bullet from the follow-up, The Selecter were unstoppable.
It wasn’t all nostalgia, however, as Frontline, the cool, lilting reggae groove of Remember Me and Breakdown (the heir apparent to Ghost Town and quite possibly the best ska song you’ll hear in a decade) showed that the fire of rebellion and biting social commentary has not diminished over time.
Much of that is down to Pauline Black, such a sassy, stylish front woman with an endless reserve of energy and a voice of pure gold, she oozes personality and charisma. Quite how she has escaped the ageing ravages of a 40-year career is a mystery, but perhaps she has found the fountain of youth somewhere in Coventry.
With her partner in crime from the early day Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson adding some deep end on the vocals as well as some snazzy moves this was one big ska party from beginning to end.
Joining the fun was Rhoda Dakar from The Bodysnatchers, who performed her own mini set including Let’s Do The Rock Steady before Black and Gaps joined her for Madness, the traditional set closer on the original Two-Tone Tour in 1979 and Can’t Get Used To Losing You, a poignant tribute to the recently-departed Ranking Roger from The Beat. A touching end to a wonderful celebration of Two-Tone music.
