THE BEAT, BARROWLAND BALLROOM, 9th JUNE 2023
Ska legends The Beat rolled back the years and gave a packed Barrowland Ballroom an evening to remember on Friday. Alongside new wave outfit Bow Wow Wow, it was a night for the nostalgists to remind them of bygone days of yore, when music was everything, Thursday nights meant Top of the Pops and Sundays were set aside for the chart rundown. Ah the memories…….
First up were Bow Wow Wow. A project created by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren involving members of Adam and The Ants and having singer Annabella Lwin thrust into stardom at the age of 13, they were most known for three tracks in the early 80s, all of which were played during their set. C30, C60, C90 Go, which covered the then touchy subject of hope taping and music piracy opened their set. Other bigger hits Go Wild In The Country and the cover of The Strangeloves 1965 classic I Want Candy were well received. Overall, their sound was very similar to early Adam and The Ants music, heavy on the Burundi beat with just a drum kit and single guitarist on stage alongside Lwin on vocals. Still, the music was a good listen and there was more than enough energy on stage to carry off the set.
The Beat were formed in Birmingham in 1978, and with the Two Tone and Ska revival around that time, they were regulars to the charts alongside their counterparts Madness, The Specials, The Selecter and Bad Manners. The band as we knew it would split in 1983 and after several incarnations and other formed associations, original singer Dave Wakeling keeps his version going to this day, playing to sell out audiences and performing all the big hits, which would occupy most of tonights set.
Leading the way to the stage was a single piper, adding a nice wee touch of Scottish’ness to proceedings. After the band follow on its full steam ahead. Three big hits, Rough Rider, Twist and Crawl and Hands Off Shes Mine and the tone was set for the evening, top ska music and an audience loving every second. The smiles on Wakeling’s face told the story of a man still loving performing his music, and im sure everyone in the Glasgow crowd mirrored those feelings.
Other big numbers filled the setlist. Their cover of the Andy Williams 1963 hit Cant Get Used To Losing You, Best Friend, Save It For Later, Too Nice to Talk To and Mirror In The Bathroom, all classic hits for the band that still sound great today. A two-track encore of another cover, their debut single originally performed by Smokey Robinson, Tears of a Clown, followed by Jackpot and the evening was over.
Yet another great night at the Barras for those of a certain vintage with monkey boots and Fred Perry polo shirts on every corner, proving yet again what we all know about good music…. you Just Cant Stop It !!!
Review & Photographs by Stephen Wilson
