Pork pie hats, hounds-tooth, and three piece suits with skinny ties were the look du jour at Club Nokia last Thursday night. The occasion? The first proper concert from The Specials in over 30 years.
Every Mod and Rude Boy in Southern California (and a few celebrities to boot) were packed into Club Nokia.
The night began with a rousing set from Fitz and the Tantrums. Their combination of passionate 60’s funk and soul got the crowd going, and kept all suitably entertained for the entire 45 minute set. As fantastic as they were, they were but a necessary link in the chain of events that would lead us to what we were all waiting for – The Specials!
There was one more act before the band took the stage – a DJ set being spun from a slick DJ table in the photo pit. I thought I had a spark of recognition as I made my way up front to snap a picture or two. It wall all in the family Thursday night. The shy DJ spinning the vintage Ska, Reggae, and Rocksteady forty-fives was Terry Hall’s son, Felix Hall, along with Neville Staple’s older brother. How cool is that?
When The Specials took the stage at 9:30, the club erupted in cheers and the entire ground floor turned into a giant dance floor. They opened with “Do the Dog,” and the ground was shaking like Northridge circa 1994.
On so many levels, the band’s two front men, Terry Hall and Neville Staple are the personifications of the 2 tone black and white duality. After all these years, their personalities and presence on stage haven’t changed. Staple had boundless energy as he danced back and forth across the stage, beaming from ear to ear, joking easily with the audience between songs. Hall, on the other hand, was completely inside himself, often lingering at the far back of the stage, scowling as fiercely as ever. That’s the Terry Hall I’ve been waiting to see for 30 years, and he didn’t disappoint. Hall said recently, “Every time I walk onstage with this band now, I still don’t know what I’m onstage for, apart from it feels important to us and it feel important to the people who are there. That’s the only reason.” I couldn’t agree more, and judging from the energy at Club Nokia, everyone else agreed, too.
The smiles, hugs, and yes — kisses — on stage Thursday were living proof of the close friendships and tight chemistry between these six gents. Lynval Golding (rhythm guitar, vocals) often shared a mic and spotlight with Hall, and when he wasn’t running across stage, would cozy up to Roddy Byers (lead guitar) and the two were beaming.
Horace Panter (bass guitar) even took the spotlight for lead vocals on a tune, and it was endearing to see a silver haired John Bradbury (drums) in fine form still keeping a tight beat and still sporting his classic bolo tie.
The LA Times blog summed the show up nicely, “Amazing how a ’70s ska band from across the pond can elicit this much excitement stateside. But when it’s a fun, exuberant, generally life-affirming and, well, special bunch as this, it’s hard not to act squirrelly.”
The band played for over an hour and a half and we wished they could play forever. The Specials played a short encore that kicked off with “Ghost Town,” which was shocking in it’s intensity and relevance, even today. The encore concluded with “Enjoy Yourself” and just like that, the show was done.
I had a chance to chat with Roddy after the show. He was incredibly gracious and warm, energized from the evening’s show. “Sometimes you’re really on, like tonight, it’s just up to the guy up there, you know?” He confirmed they’d be coming back in the states this summer, playing Summer stage August 22nd in NYC and a handful of other dates. “We’re not up for long tours any more – it’s just too hard at this age.”
Roddy might be feeling the aches and pains of time, but you’d never know it from his performance. There were plenty of jumps, splits, guitar swinging and general guitar bravado. Today’s young bands should consider themselves blessed to be as tight, energetic, and enthusiastic as The Specials are today. If they come to a town near you later this summer, it’s sure to be a must-see event, just like Thursday’s show at Club Nokia.
SETLIST: The Specials at Club Nokia April 15th, 2010
Do the Dog
Dawning of a new Era
Gangsters
It’s Up to You
Monkey Man
Rat Race
Hey Little Rich Girl
Blank Expression
Doesn’t Make it Alright
Stupid Marriage
Concrete Jungle
Friday Night/Saturday morning
Stereotype
Man at C&A
Message to You
Do Nothing
Little Bitch
Nite Club
Too Much Too Young
You’re Wondering Now
—————
Ghost Town
Enjoy Yourself
