Posted on Monday 24th October 2016 at 12:30
REVIEW: The Specials at Rock City, Nottingham (19/10/16) by Bridget O'Hara.
Photo: Shaun Wootton (https://www.facebook.com/shaunwoottonphotography)
Dust off your pork pie hat, grab your braces and Fred Perry attire, as 2 Tone favourites The Specials return to Nottingham for another sold out show at Rock City.
Kicking off their UK Tour, they’re joined by Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene) again and since the passing of drummer John ‘Brad’ Bradley late last year, Gary Powell of Libertines fame has taken his spot for this tour. As the lights dimmed, the sirens started ringing out to the intro of their opening track ‘Ghost Town’, followed by ‘Do Nothing’.
A room mostly filled with fifty somethings, it wasn’t until ‘Rat Race’ came on it seemed like the crowd had drank enough Red Stripe to pluck up the courage to dance like they used to back in the day.
Halfway through, Lynval Golding & Steve Cradock did a beautiful cover of Bob Marley ‘redemption song’ which got everybody singing along with them.
Photo: Shaun Wootton (https://www.facebook.com/shaunwoottonphotography)
After that it seemed the crowd had indeed had enough Dutch courage, the Nottingham faithful danced their way through the rest of their set. ‘Nite Klub’ ‘Do the Dog’ and ‘Concrete Jungle’ got the whole room dancing and clapping along.
In just under a 2 hour set they covered all their greatest hits, including ‘A Message To You Rudy’ ‘Enjoy Yourself’, ‘Monkey Man’, and ‘Enjoy Yourself’ also making an appearance.
The encore featured another cover, this time, Louis Armstrong’s ‘All The Time In The World’ and aptly finishes the evening with ‘You’re Wondering Now’.
The band seemed to enjoy themselves and the audience, old and new alike, seem to have loved every minute of it.
Photo: Shaun Wootton (https://www.facebook.com/shaunwoottonphotography)
The Specials continue their UK tour with a show at Blackpool's Empress Ballroom on 27th October. Buy tickets here.