The English Beat – The Powerstation August 23, 2012

It seems absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder. Dave Wakeling had never toured New Zealand during The (original) Beat’s heyday in the early 1980s, and so, now, 30 years later, he and his American version of The English Beat finally played a show at Auckland’s Powerstation. The fans…most of a certain vintage…turned out in full force, making the one show a sell-out.

With Wakeling the only original member of the band present, this could be perceived more as a Beat tribute band, than the genuine article, but it didn’t really seem to matter. Wakeling, who wrote and sang most of the band’s most popular tunes, was in good form. He proved to be a genial on-stage host, with his white teardrop-shaped left-handed guitar slung over his shoulder and his voice in fine nick.

Filling the shoes of Ranking Roger was Antonee First Class, whose toasting and general good vibes got the crowd revved up throughout the nearly-two hour show.

The band started out with a clutch of their earliest material including Tears Of A Clown and Hands Off…She’s Mine, before ripping into a dandy version of The Staple Singers’ I’ll Take You There, a tune Wakeling and Roger recorded as General Public back in the 90s. Current sax player Matt Morrish took the opportunity to shine during the number. Later Wakeling told us original saxophone player, Saxa, now age 86, “sends us his love”.

I Confess, the first song performed from 1982’s Special Beat Service, came across a bit lifeless, but Save It For Later, played soon after, got the crowd going.

Wakeling enjoyed a good rapport with the fans, at one point he singled out a girl in the crowd…”you look a bit sad”…he urged “somebody give her a tickle”. He also showed off his whistling prowess during another General Public song, Never You Done That.

The set concluded with some frenzied dancing on stage and in the crowd to Give Me The Ska and Ranking Full Stop, before wrapping up with a Mirror In The Bathroom sing-a-long. No encore was offered and none was needed.

Marty Duda

The English Beat set list:

1. Rough Rider
2. Tears Of A Clown
3. Hands Off…She’s Mine
4. Twist And Crawl
5. I’ll Take You There
6. I Confess
7. Click Click
8. Save It For Later
9. Whine And Grine/Stand Down Margaret
10. Two Swords
11. Can’t Get Used To Losing You
12. Best Friend
13. The Doors Of Your Heart
14. Sole Salvation
15. Never You Done That
16. Tenderness
17. Give Me The Ska
18. Ranking Full Stop
19. Mirror In The Bathroom