Madness - Go 'One step Beyond' at the Green 'House of Fun' !!!

*****

Total Madness at the Eden Project

Madness ***** set in the stunning setting of the Eden Project in Cornwall, The Eden Sessions are a series of performances by some of the World’s top music artists. Since 2002 there have been many World class artists to play the stage set between the two biomes which The Times called "The eighth wonder of the World".

Madness are an English Ska band from Camden Town, London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent chart bands of the late 1970's and early 1980's 2-Tone Ska revival. Lead by Graham 'Suggs' McPherson, one of the most recognisable British vocalists, MADNESS have had countless hits Worldwide and their lyrics imprinted into the memories of millions of people.

Dressed all in charcoal blue and navy blue suits with the addition of shades, the band still look the part as they enter the stage before opening their set with the 1980 UK No.4, 'Embarrassment' and the first recorded track 'The Prince'. Complete with his red fez, saxophonist Lee Thompson took centre stage for his sax solo whilst pulling all kinds of faces. The crowd were only just getting warmed up as Suggs had a little dig at the UK audience, as their album had made No.1 in America but only No.5 here, before breaking out 'Mr Apples' and 'Herbert' from their 2016 album 'Can't touch us Now'.

The set continued with 1982 classic 'Cardiac Arrest' with pianist Mike Barson's dramatic intro before returning to more new material in the forms of 'Blackbird, (Don't let Them' Catch you Crying' and 'Mumbo Jumbo' which got the audience moving. What followed was a tour de force of just what Madness are capable of. Suggs began questioning the Eden crowd, "What was the name of our first album?" and as the crowd shouted the three words synonymous with Madness. As Lee Thompson started the signature sax intro to 'One step Beyond', the crowd erupted with dancing, hat throwing and inflatable saxophones.

Madness mega hits 'Baggy Trousers' and 'Our House' followed before finishing on the Labi Siffre cover of 'It must be Love'. The audience and band were singing in unison, as one throughout the final track before the band departed the stage. The guys returned to the stage with the crowd shouting "More" and "Encore" and opened their encore with the Prince Buster song 'Madness'. Alas it was time to end but not before ending on a high as 'Night boat to Cairo' rang out amongst the biomes and palm trees. Madness proved that even after fourty one years in the business, they knew how to put on a great show even when some of the songs were unknown by the majority of the crowd.

Madness - Setlist
---------------------------
Embarrassment
The Prince
NW5
Mr. Apples
My Girl
Herbert
Cardiac Arrest
The Sun and the Rain
Blackbird
Shut Up
Wings of a Dove
Yesterday's Men
I chase the Devil A.K.A. Ironshirt (Max Romeo Cover)
Mumbo Jumbo
Grey Day
(Don’t let Them) Catch you Crying
One step Beyond (Prince Buster cover)
Baggy Trousers
Our House
It must be Love (Labi Siffre cover)
------------------------------------
Madness (Prince Buster cover)
Night boat to Cairo

Review and Photos by Pete Webb 

Check Out! the Video for 'One step Beyond' Below...