Specials - 3oth Anniversary Reunion Tour first night - Newcastle Academy
The entire gig, from start to finish, was completely exhilarating, a real celebration of a mighty band.
Loads of fat old skinheads - boys and girls - all getting dressed up again in their old gear - braces, pork pie hats, the lot; the crowd singing "Moonstomp" - yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeaaaaah! - before the band had even come on, generating a spine-tingling atmosphere; everyone boozed up, but friendly in the mosh - proper pushing about and then catching our breath between songs, 'cause we ain't getting any younger!; I lost my shoe during "Too much too young", found it again and rather than try and put it back on I just waved it around my head during "The skinhead symphony"...
Highlights for me were "Too much too young" and "Gangsters", of course, but also a mighty "Do Nothing" and "Message...". "Little Bitch" was frenzied, and the dubby bits on "Man at C&A" and "Stereotype" were excellent. Much skanking took place.
The band seemed genuinely stunned and awed by the crowd's reaction. Terry Hall said it was "a f--king privilege" to play for us "and I mean that", so I'm guessing they were as ecstatic as we were.
Only bum note: finding out Terry Hall is a United fan.
In other words, straight in to my Top 10 gigs ever - Top 5 for my mate Guy [see below]! Probably just outside for me - what with Pixies at Manchester international in April 1989 at #1, closely followed by The Four Brothers at Leeds Irish Centre - weirdly, also in 1989 - a close 2nd - those two exist way out on a plane all of their own, like a portal opened up in space and time to produce a higher dimension of gig; then, getting very close but still of this planet, there is the Hold Steady at #3 and 4, The Smiths' last ever gig at Brixton Academy at #5, Ice Cube at Bratfud Uni, and CUD [not sure which one exactly as they were all great in 89-91]!
My mate Guy who came with me had this to say: "I reckon I was a bit hasty with my '“top 5' rating last night. I’ve seen better bands and better musicians, and I’ve been more blown away by sound, staging, lights etc etc, but it terms of pure enjoyment last night is right up there challenging for top spot! I had a permanent smile all through the gig, and it hasn’t worn off this morning. Best fun I’ve had at a gig in years, possibly ever. The crowd was jumping from start to finish, and nobody wanted to leave, even when the lights came on… We caught a Specials special on the radio on the way home, just to round off a great night (btw Graham – I sent a text to the station after I dropped you off, and she read it out as I was on my way home!)
If you don't believe us, you can read a splendid, evocative review of the night from The Grauniad here. And, given the wonders of YouTube, you can see much of the gig here!
The band seemed genuinely stunned and awed by the crowd's reaction. Terry Hall said it was "a f--king privilege" to play for us "and I mean that", so I'm guessing they were as ecstatic as we were.
Only bum note: finding out Terry Hall is a United fan.
In other words, straight in to my Top 10 gigs ever - Top 5 for my mate Guy [see below]! Probably just outside for me - what with Pixies at Manchester international in April 1989 at #1, closely followed by The Four Brothers at Leeds Irish Centre - weirdly, also in 1989 - a close 2nd - those two exist way out on a plane all of their own, like a portal opened up in space and time to produce a higher dimension of gig; then, getting very close but still of this planet, there is the Hold Steady at #3 and 4, The Smiths' last ever gig at Brixton Academy at #5, Ice Cube at Bratfud Uni, and CUD [not sure which one exactly as they were all great in 89-91]!
My mate Guy who came with me had this to say: "I reckon I was a bit hasty with my '“top 5' rating last night. I’ve seen better bands and better musicians, and I’ve been more blown away by sound, staging, lights etc etc, but it terms of pure enjoyment last night is right up there challenging for top spot! I had a permanent smile all through the gig, and it hasn’t worn off this morning. Best fun I’ve had at a gig in years, possibly ever. The crowd was jumping from start to finish, and nobody wanted to leave, even when the lights came on… We caught a Specials special on the radio on the way home, just to round off a great night (btw Graham – I sent a text to the station after I dropped you off, and she read it out as I was on my way home!)
If you don't believe us, you can read a splendid, evocative review of the night from The Grauniad here. And, given the wonders of YouTube, you can see much of the gig here!
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posted by Graham at 9:58 AM
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