A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL - THE BEAT
January 11th, 2011Here is the review of The Beat, Lancaster Band and Rudimentals gig at Mercury Live from Your LMG Mag December issue - We think it hits the spot! Thanks to “Girl Banned”
The Beat (UK)
+ The Rudimentals
+ Lancaster Band
Mercury Live Sat 13 Nov.
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Tonight was always going to be one of those “once in a lifetime ” kind of gigs. The Beat, 2Tone Ska legends, are jamming on the stage I get drunk in front of almost every weekend. there is a queue around the block and not surprisingly the show is sold out. The majority of the (older) crowd is dressed impeccably in suits with braces , loafers, porkpie hats and even a few pairs of Jerry Dammer’ style shades. The Lancaster Band are beaming like teenagers at their first gig, in complete awe of being invited to play on the same stage as the very legends they grew up listening to. They rinse the stage with their contagious and faultless ska beats. the skanking is in full swing and the walls are glistening from the rising temperature. the atmosphere is copasetic and the first hint of Chronic wafts past me, the fogeys have pulled out all the stops. T-Boz and the Rudies deliver their signature Afro-beat reggae with abandon as the heaving crowd soaks up their energy. we are reaching fever pitch, the drunk and stoned mass seem entranced as they patiently await The Beat’s arrival on stage. Ranking Roger and his offspring Ranking Junior bust out, holy smokes this is happening! Every person in the audience is sporting an ear-to-ear smile as the band delivers hit after hit whilst mashing the set up with new songs. Ranking’s rapport and engaging charm has the crowd bobbing on the ends of his puppet strings. When they finally play ” Mirror in the Bathroom”, a small part of me fears that the floor may give way. But it’s the epic crescendo as we all belt out the chorus, a capella, that leaves Ranking’s jaw dropped wide open.
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Cape Town and The Beat have etched a priceless impression on each other tonight!
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“Girl Banned”
LMG Issue No 44
