The Selecter - 35 years and still going strong

****

2-Tone legends delight in Bath!

Spring is about to be sprung and that lifts everybody’s moods and what better way to have some fun that a good old dance. It appears a fair number of people agreed and all headed with me to the Bath, Komedia to see Pauline Black and her 2-Tone band The Selecter, I am still not sure how they will manage to get all ten members of the band on such a small stage. When their was Punk their was also Ska and 2-Tone which bridged out into the great genre Oi. Ska and 2-Tone always came out of the roots of Reggae and Punk and even Northern Soul a genre that makes you want to get out and Dance. 

I have to say I don't think I have ever seen so many pork pie hats and Fred Perry t-shirts on display before in my life, and their seems to be a kind of uniform for tonight's show and everyone but me is wearing it. Their are a lot of old faithful fans in tonight that probably saw them the first time round, thirty five years ago, so are a little older than me, but I am shore all can bring out some moves and shapes like they were back when it all first started. When the ‘Too Much Pressure’ album was first released it really caused a stir and everyone ran out and bought it, borrowed it, stole it!!!.

There maybe less hair and more bellies in attendance today and this included this reviewer, but the enthusiasm is still at fever pitch levels with shouts of “Rude Boy" and “Rude Girl” littering the whole performance. The set is pretty much the whole ‘Too much Pressure’ album in order, from the start to the finish and I can't think of a better way to start it all off with than full fist blown track ‘Three Minute Hero’ and according to Pauline Black, things have not changed since 1979 anyway as “everyday things are getting worse”.  

The crowd participation was continued by a semi naked man (top half luckily) conducting the crowd leading into “their love song” ‘Missing Words’ possibly one of their best as being at a slower pace from most of the rest while still sounding great. Pauline kept up good banter with the crowd throughout being concerned about the floods in Somerset, though Bath was not affected, the sentiment clearly shows somebody engaging with her fans which too often is missing with a number of bands. It was clear how much she and Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson the other vocalist are just still loving what they do, betraying the thirty five years that have elapsed since they did it first time round.

The playing of ‘Too Much Pressure’ continued, minus the lead track and was followed by some of their well know numbers from other albums, with possibly their most famous ‘On The Radio’ being the one most the crowd were waiting to her and were not disappointed. When playing this song the energy in the room lifted to new levels and the atmosphere in the venue is electric, showing the band have still not lost anything in their live performances.

The set had almost a carnival ending when the title track of ‘Too much Pressure’ was played, the one that most people in the audience have been waiting for and a big anthem even thirty five years on. This song has really stood the test of time and can you think you can say that about many songs that are in the charts these days. Ska and 2-Tone was a real movement in the UK and this was one of the stand out tunes so it was really nice to see on the live stage. I remember finding this song on compilations over the years and movie soundtracks and it is a great deal more powerful when done live and these recordings don't really do it justice.

I was not born when this album was first released but loved every minute of it and would go and see them live again. This is a band that exude energy and are really loved by their fans which has resulted in them having a loyal following that turn out even now. They have great tunes you just can’t but dance to do, what more could you want from an evening with this type of music. If you have not heard of The Selecter then this is a great album to buy because every song is just great and I this was a really nice live evening of music that I will always remember.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (www.icarusphotography.co.uk)

Check Out! a classic live performance of 'Too much Pressure' Below...