The English Beat

 

English Beat photos by Mario Buttali

(readers, cue English Beat - Rough Rider) (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return) (this finally works again)

(Above link is the English Beat playing earlier on the same tour in White River Junction VT on December 16, 2010 despite what YouTube poster typed)

The YouTube link is a pretty good approximation of the show that FreeEye2 and I went to see at Johnny D's in Somerville. J-Mar was missing in action getting a haircut or something. I got the picture above of Dave Wakeling as he was harassing one of the guys a couple of rows back for not dancing or moving.

The show was very good. What else can I tell you? The show sold out. Being right up front, the sight lines were great and volume was not too bad, though the sound guy was not too attentive to the requests of the band. The crowd was what you would expect, people (more women than gentlemen) wistfully reliving concerts from the prime of their lives.  The skanking was not too crazy.  Extra points to Dave for namechecking The Channel. It was great seeing them in such a small venue, as last several halls played around Boston have been Middle East Downstairs, Somerville Theater and the Paradise.  Tickets were $30, but, in full disclosure, I was on the guess list thanks to FreeEye2 and Rhythmm (EB's drummer). The whole band was very approachable after the show and talked to all who dared.

Oh yeah, thanks to HeiDep for not stepping on my feet too much.


Real concert review from the Phoenix here.